Can I Use Dash Cam Footage for My Wisconsin Car Accident Case?
Proving who is at fault for a car accident can be difficult. Often, cases devolve into he-said, she-said accounts. In these situations, objective evidence, like dash cam footage, can help provide a tie-breaker and ensure that accident victims can establish their right to recovery. Dash cam footage can be valuable evidence in Wisconsin car accident cases.
What is Dash Cam Footage?
A dash camera is an onboard camera that continuously records footage in a vehicle. The camera’s viewpoint is from the vehicle’s dashboard, and there may also be one to shoot footage from the rear of the vehicle. The footage is usually sent to the cloud for safe storage.
Dash cams can potentially provide valuable video evidence if a motor vehicle accident occurs.
Can I Install a Dash Camera in Wisconsin?
Yes. Dash cameras are legal in Wisconsin. However, there are rules regarding how they must be installed, including:
- The camera must be mounted behind the vehicle’s rearview mirror
- The camera cannot obstruct the driver’s view of the road
- The camera cannot block the area cleaned by a vehicle’s windshield wipers
What Can Dash Cam Footage Reveal?
Dash cameras can potentially provide valuable evidence in case of a motor vehicle accident, including:
The Accident
Perhaps most importantly, dash cameras may capture the accident, including the immediate moments before and after it. Depending on the camera’s view, this may help show how the accident occurred.
The Other Driver’s Behavior
The dash camera may record the other driver’s behavior, such as showing they were:
- Speeding
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Running a red light
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Driving recklessly
The camera could also show the driver acting in a hostile manner that may indicate road rage contributed to the crash.
Vehicle Details
The dash camera may also record information about the vehicle that can help authorities identify it in case of a hit and run. For example, it might show the vehicle’s:
- Make
- Model
- Color
- License plate
Conversations
After a car accident, the drivers involved will generally exchange information near the accident site. The dash camera could record these conversations, which may include useful details, such as:
- The other driver apologizing for the crash
- The other driver having slurred speech or other signs of impairment
- The other driver saying something inconsistent with a statement they made to police or their insurance company
Memory Refresher
Car accidents can be traumatizing events. Sometimes, accident victims may not remember the exact details. The footage may help refresh your memory about how the accident happened.
Defense
Dash cameras can also help you defend against false allegations against you if the other driver is trying to blame you for the accident, by showing you:
- Were driving the speed limit
- Maintaining your traffic lane
- Obeying traffic rules
How a Lawyer Can Help
A lawyer can help obtain relevant dash camera footage. They can carefully analyze the footage to determine if it has stored valuable evidence. Your lawyer may try to preserve the evidence before it is lost, destroyed, or recorded over. If the other driver has a dash camera, your lawyer can try to obtain the footage through legal means.
Lawyers can leverage dash cam footage to support a fair settlement with insurance companies.
An experienced car accident attorney at Mingo & Yankala, S.C. can help with all aspects of this process.