Car Accident Evidence: Why a Dashcam Matters

A great way to have evidence of what happened in a car accident to help your attorney at Anthem Injury Lawyers build a solid case, is to have a dashcam (short for dashboard camera.) Dashcams used to be expensive and hard to find, but in recent years have been made available at more reasonable prices by many in-store and online vendors. A good dashcam should provide clear, reliable footage and have useful features to capture evidence in case of an accident.

Here are the qualities to look for:

1. High-Resolution Video Quality

– Why It Matters: High resolution (at least 1080p Full HD, ideally 4K) ensures that footage is clear enough to capture details like license plates, road signs, and facial features.

– Night Vision: Look for dashcams with good low-light performance or infrared night vision for clear recording at night or in low-light conditions.

2. Wide-Angle Lens

– Ideal Range: A 140- to 170-degree field of view captures a wide portion of the road, covering multiple lanes and intersections.

– Avoid Too Wide: A field of view over 170 degrees can distort images, making it harder to read license plates or see finer details.

3. Loop Recording

– Why It’s Important: Loop recording overwrites old footage when the storage is full, so you don’t have to worry about running out of space. Most dashcams let you save important clips to avoid overwriting them.

4. G-Sensor (Impact Detection)

– Purpose: The G-sensor detects sudden movements (like a crash) and automatically saves and locks that segment of footage to prevent it from being overwritten.

5. Parking Mode

– Why It’s Useful: A dashcam with parking mode can record when the car is parked, capturing incidents like hit-and-runs or vandalism. Some dashcams can automatically start recording when they detect movement or impact.

– Power Considerations: Some dashcams need a hardwiring kit or battery pack to record in parking mode without draining your car’s battery.

6. Dual Cameras (Front and Rear)

– Benefits: Dual dashcams capture both front and rear views, which can be especially useful for rear-end collisions or if something happens behind your car.

– Interior Camera Option: Some dashcams also include an interior-facing camera, ideal for rideshare drivers who want to record inside the vehicle.

7. GPS Tracking

– Why It’s Important: GPS tracking records location, speed, and time data, which can be helpful for insurance claims or in court to show your exact route and speed at the time of an incident.

8. Wi-Fi and App Connectivity

– Convenience: Wi-Fi allows you to connect the dashcam to your smartphone for easy video downloads, updates, and settings adjustments without removing the memory card.

9. Storage Capacity and Expandability

– Memory Card Size: Choose a dashcam that supports high-capacity memory cards (at least 64GB, ideally 128GB or more).

– Format: Some dashcams require high-endurance microSD cards, which are designed to handle continuous recording.

10. Reliability in Extreme Temperatures

– For Hot Climates: If you live in a hot climate like Las Vegas, look for a dashcam designed to withstand high temperatures. Dashcams with built-in capacitors instead of lithium-ion batteries are more heat-resistant and less likely to overheat.

11. Audio Recording

– Optional: Audio recording captures sounds within the car, which can add context to video footage. Most dashcams allow you to toggle audio recording on and off as needed.

12. Discreet and Compact Design

– Why It’s Helpful: A compact design minimizes dashboard clutter and makes the dashcam less noticeable to potential thieves.

Anthem Injury Lawyers partner Anthony B. Golden provided the following perspective on dashcams, “While I don’t recommend a particular brand, the biggest issues we usually find are that the dashcam either didn’t record properly, or that the video gets corrupted when trying to transfer it out of the camera.” So, when purchasing a dashcam make sure you buy one that specifically addresses these items. A great resource for researching dashcams is Consumer Reports, but you can also do research through online search engines and by reading reviews on online vendor websites.

Investing in a dashcam with these features provides reliable, high-quality footage that can be essential for proving your case in an accident. Anthem Injury Lawyers will be there for you if you get in a car or truck accident that is not your fault. We are here when you need us and we drive results for car accident victims in Las Vegas.