Dash Cam Footage in a Florida Car Accident Case
Over the years, dash cam usage among drivers has surged. A dashcam or dashboard camera is a small camera that you mount on the dashboard or windshield that continuously records the road ahead, providing real-time footage of every trip. According to research, in 2023, the global dashcam market was valued at $ 4.03 billion and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6% from 2024 to 20330. The United States dashboard camera market alone is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 7.3% from 2024 to 2030. This surge is mainly because of the significance of dashcam footage in car accident claims. In the event of a Florida car accident, dash cam footage can be invaluable. However, it is crucial to note that there are also some cons to dash cam footage. Read on to learn more about dash cam footage in a Florida car accident case.
Can You Use Dash Cam Footage as Evidence in Your Florida Car Accident Case?
You can use dash cam footage as evidence in your Florida car accident case. However, the footage must be clear, relevant, and properly authenticated. As long as these requirements are met, Florida courts generally accept dashcam footage as admissible evidence. However, any audio recordings must comply with the state’s consent laws. If your dashboard camera captured audio, you may need to turn off the audio recording to ensure the evidence is admissible. In Florida, if you have a dash cam, you need permission to record another person’s audio. In other words, if you have passengers in your vehicle, you must inform them about the ability of your dashcam to record audio and get their consent to have their audio recorded. Also, you must ensure that you preserve the original footage without any alterations, as any modifications to the original footage, even minor edits, can result in the footage being considered inadmissible.
The best thing to do is to contact a qualified car accident lawyer. An experienced attorney will assess your dashcam footage and determine if it is admissible.
How Dash Cam Footage Can Impact Your Florida Car Accident Case
Dash cam footage can provide an objective, clear view of the events that occurred before, during, and after your accident. Unlike human witnesses who may be biased or have unreliable memories, dash cam footage provides clear, unbiased evidence. This can be vital in establishing fault. For instance, dash cam footage can show the other driver cutting you off, failing to yield the right of way, or running a red light. This evidence is beneficial because it shows how the other driver violated the law and caused your accident.
However, there are some cons to dashcam footage. Suppose your dashboard camera captured a mistake on your part that contributed to the accident. In such a case, you may still be able to recover compensation, but your compensation will be reduced based on the percentage of fault apportioned to you. This is because Florida uses the comparative negligence rule. Also, a dash cam may not always capture the angles needed to determine what exactly happened.
Contact a Lakeland Car Accident Attorney
If you’ve been in a car accident, contact our skilled Lakeland car accident attorneys at Darla K. Snead, P.L. We can offer advice about using dash cam evidence in your case and help you gather other types of evidence that can help support your case.
Source:
grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/dashboard-camera-market
