More and more Florida residents are placing dashboard-mounted cameras, also known as dash-cams, in their vehicles. These devices allow drivers to capture and record the events taking place in the environment surrounding their vehicle; including any car accidents they may happen to be involved in.
If you’ve been injured in a Florida car accident, you have a right to seek compensation from the at-fault driver for the losses you have experienced as a result of your accident. These losses can include medical expenses and lost wages as well as pain, suffering, and mental anguish.
You can obtain this compensation by filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. However, to collect, you’ll have to be able to prove that the at-fault driver really was at fault for the accident. Dash-cam footage that clearly portrays the accident could be a big help.
Can Dash-Cam Footage Be Used as Evidence in a Florida Car Accident Claim?
In many instances, a dashboard camera may record valuable information about the details and causes of the accident. The footage could be important if a personal injury claim needs to be filed. The question is, is the dash-cam footage permissible as evidence?
Dash-cams are legal in Florida as long as they’re mounted in a way that doesn’t obstruct the driver’s view of the road. The state’s windshield obstruction laws forbid drivers from operating their vehicles if the view is obstructed. Violators are subject to being ticketed and fined.
Florida’s electronic audio surveillance laws apply to dash-cam recordings as well. This requires that you get consent from everyone involved before recording any audio statements. Recording someone without their consent is a felony in Florida.
The Criteria for Dash-Cam Footage to be Admitted as Evidence
Dash-cam footage can be used as evidence in a personal injury claim, provided it meets the state’s criteria for being admissible in a court of law:
- Your dash-cam video must show convincing and clear footage directly related to the facts about the car accident. For instance, footage that shows events happening out of frame may not be admissible.
- The video footage must be authentic. In order for your footage to be submitted as evidence, you must first swear under oath as to its authenticity.
An Attorney Can Help Determine if Your Video Meets the Criteria
If you’re unsure if your dash-cam footage meets the state’s criteria for being admitted as evidence, speak with a personal injury attorney who has experience in car accident claims. In a lot of instances, the dash-cam footage may not be sufficient to establish fault. An attorney can help you determine how useful the footage is to your case and help you recover other evidence that can help.
To be successful, you’ll not only have to prove that the driver of the other vehicle was at fault in the accident, but that the accident caused your injuries and that you’ve suffered losses and damages as a result of these injuries.
In addition to helping you gather the evidence you’ll need to establish your personal injury claim, an attorney can assist you in assigning a dollar value to your losses and negotiate on your behalf with the other driver and their insurance company.
Speak to a Florida Car Accident Attorney
The careless actions of another driver can change your life in an instant. Car accidents often result in serious physical injury and emotional trauma. You could find yourself laid up, unable to work, and unable to pay your medical bills and other expenses.
Before you accept a settlement from an insurance company, speak to Lutz car accident lawyer Tania Rivas. Tania is here to protect your rights to secure the compensation you deserve for the losses caused by your injuries. She has successfully represented clients injured in car accidents in Lakeland, Lutz, Winter Haven, and other Central Florida communities. Her legal knowledge and expertise have enabled Tania to obtain millions of dollars in settlements for her clients.
Don’t wait to take action! Florida has strict statute of limitations laws; if you wait too long, the courts may refuse to hear your case. The earlier you enlist Tania’s aid, the easier it will be to collect the evidence needed to support your personal injury claim.
Contact Rivas Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case with a Lutz personal injury attorney. Tania accepts most personal injury cases on a contingency basis, which means there are no retainers or other up-front fees, and payment is collected as a percentage of your settlement.
