The Benefits of Having a Dash Cam

Dash Cams have been available to the general public for a long time, so we look into why an increasing number of drivers have opted to have one in their car.

What are the benefits of a dash cam, how can they influence driver behaviour, and how might they increase safety? Our Road Traffic Accidents team answers all of these questions and more.

Evidence and Legal protection

The obvious plus is the ability of a dash cam to passively record everything happening directly in front of it. As well as the movement of other cars, it can capture weather conditions, pedestrians, animals and objects in the the road, and whether or not other road users are signalling correctly or have headlights on.

If an accident were to occur, this evidence can back up your story, as it is a more reliable source than memory alone. In the event of a dispute regarding sequence of events or liability, the evidence captured can clear this up or at least give authorities a bigger of what appears to have happened.

False accusations and fraudulent claims are increasingly common, so you may have backup footage to secure you against such matters. Finally, there is also the recording of events surrounding hit and runs, which could tell police the registration number of the offending car, alongside other details such as the make and colour of the vehicle. This can be a huge help to ongoing investigations.

Insurance benefits

Some insurers may offer cheaper premiums in exchange for having a dash cam present in the car. Dash cam footage can speed up the claims process, and varying discounts may be applied for supplying footage.

In the event of a non-fault accident, incident footage may be used as evidence to prove that you were the innocent party and potentially prevent future increased premiums. Having footage may also prevent a fraudulent claim being made, as your evidence could contradict false information and help to identify insurance fraud quickly.

Security

A dash cam sitting inside your windscreen is an effective visual deterrent. If there are two cars on a quiet street and yours is the only one with a dash cam in plain sight, it is more likely that an observant thief will target the car that doesn’t have one.

Some modern dash cams can also activate when motion or impact occurs when parked and unattended. This may catch a vandal, thief, or another vehicle clipping your car and fleeing the scene, providing instant evidence and a clearer picture of what happened to provide to police or insurance.

Driver behaviour

According to this RAC article, drivers with a dash cam installed are more likely to drive more sensibly because they know they are being recorded. For a parent of a new driver, it can be a way of reassuring them that their child is driving safely after passing their test and heading out on the road for the first time.

Having a dash cam recording can also document aggressive drivers if an incident were to occur after an extended buildup, providing additional context to an investigation.

Expense

For anyone deciding whether or not it is worth the cost of investment to buy a dashcam, it may help to think about the time and expense it could eliminate in the unfortunate event of an accident. You never know when an incident might occur, but having the footage on camera could:

• Prove your innocence in a liability dispute
• Remember details that you may have forgotten
• Capture additional evidence to assist your case
• Provide a solid timeline of events
• Capture the identity of a thief or vandal
• Record an unrelated crime happening in the vicinity

In conclusion

A dashcam isn’t a necessity in your car, but having looked into the merits of having one – if you can afford one it may save you a lot of hassle and grief in the event that the worst did happen.

I have been injured in a collision and I wasn’t to blame. Can I claim for compensation?

Get in touch with a member of our team and provide us with some basic details about the accident, your injuries, and details of your financial losses. We will then be able to tell you if you have a potential claim.

There is no obligation to proceed upon making an enquiry, and your call will be handled in the strictest of confidence.

Further reading

Driver and passenger claims – Oakwood Solicitors

WHAT TO DO NEXT

If you have been involved in an accident and you were not to blame – get in touch today. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.