Truck accidents can inflict severe harm on victims, from catastrophic injuries to highly expensive medical bills. Recovering financial compensation for a trucking accident claim requires evidence or proof of fault. Dashboard camera (dashcam) footage is a strong type of truck accident evidence that could serve your case in multiple ways.
Proof of Truck Driver Negligence and Fault
Cameras installed inside the cab of a commercial truck or on the dashboards of other vehicles can record the events leading up to a trucking accident. It can provide clear, definitive images that allow investigators to understand the cause of the crash.
In-cab footage facing a truck driver can reveal dangerous actions and behaviors while driving that may have contributed to the collision, such as:
- Distracted driving
- Unlawful cellphone use
- Watching videos or reading while driving
- Driver inattention
- Drowsy driving or falling asleep
- Evidence of drug or alcohol use
- Improper truck operation
Footage from other motorists’ dashcams may also prove useful in demonstrating the truck’s movements in the moments leading up to the crash. Examples include:
- Moving violations
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Making unsafe lane changes
- Illegal U-turns
- Unsafe following distances
If dashcam footage provides evidence that a truck driver is responsible for causing an accident, the driver could be held liable, meaning he or she will be responsible for paying for the accident and all victims’ related losses. Trucking companies can typically be held vicariously liable for their drivers, as well.
Evidence of Crash Severity
Dashcam evidence can also help establish the severity of the trucking accident and related injuries and property damage. The footage recorded may show the speed of the impact and the immense amount of damage that it causes to victims. This can help prove the extent of the victim’s injuries and losses to an insurance company.
Resolving Liability Disputes
Trucking companies and their insurance providers do not want to absorb liability for accidents involving their trucks and drivers. They often deny claims and refute fault to protect their own profits.
The evidence collected from dashboard cameras can help resolve “he-said, she-said” arguments by providing indisputable proof of fault. In this way, the footage can strengthen your claim, prove who is responsible for the accident and eliminate wasted time by reducing guesswork.
How to Obtain Dashcam Footage for Your Texas Truck Accident Case
In the aftermath of a truck accident, it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer near you as soon as possible to help you preserve and collect key evidence. Trucking companies use rapid response teams to obtain evidence at crash scenes right away. The best way to counteract tactics often used by trucking companies to avoid liability is to hire an attorney.
Your lawyer can issue letters of spoliation or file subpoenas that require a trucking company to preserve driver-facing camera footage, black box data, electronic data recorders and other types of evidence. After obtaining all available dashcam footage, your lawyer can use it to piece together a case against one or more parties on your behalf.
A lawyer knows how to use video evidence to shape the narrative of your case and drive insurance settlement decisions. For more information about the role that dashcam evidence may play in your truck accident case in Texas, contact the Doan Law Firm for a free case review.