If you are injured in a car accident caused by another party, you may have the right to recover compensation for your damages. However, insurance companies and defense attorneys will try to deny or devalue your claim to avoid paying you the full value of your damages.
They often try to shift blame to you to avoid or minimize their liability. To protect your rights and secure the full value of your claim, you need proof of what caused your accident. Often, car accident attorneys utilize police reports and eyewitness accounts to support your claim. But even eyewitnesses who are neutral third parties can have faulty memories or only see specific details of your accident.
However, dashcam video footage can provide a truly objective view of the accident, helping to establish causation and liability.
Are Dashcams Legal in Louisiana?
Yes, it is legal to have a dashcam in your vehicle, provided that:
- A windshield-mounted device does not obstruct the driver’s view.
- The location of the dashcam does not interfere with the proper deployment of the airbag.
- It is mounted securely so that it does not become a projectile in the event of an accident.
Video footage from dashcams is usually admissible as evidence, provided it is handled correctly and authenticated by someone who can testify under oath that the footage accurately represents what it is purported to show. If you want to use footage from your dashcam, you can testify about its operation and the authenticity of the footage.
However, if the footage has been tampered with or not properly downloaded and secured, it may not be admissible in court. You should promptly consult an experienced Baton Rouge car accident lawyer to help you protect this evidence.
What are the Pros and Cons of Dashcam Footage?
Dashcam video can be used to support your case or may be used against you to defend against your claim. It may provide the exact proof you need to show the defendant’s negligence caused your crash.
On the other hand, you may believe your accident was caused by the other driver, only to view the dashcam footage and see that it was you who caused the accident. Dashcam footage can be used to prove that you were at fault.
How Can Dashcam Footage Be Used as Evidence?
Dashcam footage can be used as strong evidence in your Baton Rouge car accident claim because it provides an objective viewpoint. Often, witnesses to an accident do not remember or do not see something clearly, which can cloud their perception of the event. Clear dashcam video footage can be indisputable documentation of the accident.
Dashcam video can also be strong evidence of negligence if it captures another driver violating traffic laws. For example, if the accident was caused by the other driver running a red light and crashing into you, dashcam footage may show that the light was green for you when you entered the intersection. Likewise, if you crash into the car in front of you, you could use dashcam footage to show that the other driver was brake-checking, didn’t use a turn signal, or was driving without functioning brake lights.
What the driver was doing before and after the accident could be important evidence. If the video shows the other driver eating or texting on their phone before the impact, it can help establish fault. Likewise, if the other driver is showing signs of intoxication after the accident, it could be strong evidence of fault.
Video footage from a dashcam can also help identify the parties involved in an accident. This can be especially important if you are involved in a hit-and-run accident.
How Can Dashcam Video Impact Comparative Negligence Determination?
In Louisiana, you can still recover damages in a personal injury claim if you are partially at fault. However, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. Because of this, insurance companies and defense attorneys work hard to shift as much blame as possible to you so they can pay less in damages.
If you were not at fault, or your fault was minimal, the dashcam video footage can help prove this, so you collect the full compensation you are entitled to.
How an Experienced Baton Rouge Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another party, you may be able to recover significant compensation for your damages. However, insurance companies do not willingly hand over checks for the full value of your claim without proof that you can establish causation, liability, and the value of your damages.
An experienced Baton Rouge car accident attorney knows all the unfair tactics insurance companies and defense attorneys may use to avoid or limit their liability. Your attorney can investigate your accident to help identify all possible causes and liable parties. They can take swift action to help preserve evidence before it can be lost or destroyed. They can conduct discovery to uncover proof to support your claim.
Your car accident lawyer can help establish and accurately value all your current and future damages so you know what a fair settlement offer is and can use it as leverage to negotiate a fair settlement as quickly as possible.
When a fair settlement cannot be reached, your attorney can take your case to trial to demand the justice and compensation you deserve.
An experienced car accident attorney in Baton Rouge will know how to help preserve essential evidence, such as dashcam video footage, and how to ensure it is admissible as evidence to support your claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys Today
The Baton Rouge car accident lawyers at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys have helped clients recover over $10 billion in compensation. We possess the experience, skills, and resources to help you secure the maximum compensation possible.
If you have dashcam footage of the accident, we can help ensure it is properly downloaded and secured so it can be used as evidence. If we represent you, we will fight tirelessly to help you get the justice and full damages you are entitled to.
Call (225) 999-1111 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your Baton Rouge car accident claim. We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your options.