Key Ways To Protect Yourself In A Car Accident

Every time you get behind the wheel, you trust that other drivers will follow the rules and make the safest choices. But accidents do happen, and probably more often than you think. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2022 saw 5.93 million car accidents reported to the police in the U.S. Beyond the initial shock and potential injuries, a car accident can quickly turn into a legal mess of insurance claims, liability disputes, and mountains of paperwork. Knowing your rights and taking steps to protect yourself legally can make a world of a difference.

Dash Cams

Dashboard cameras, also known as dash cams, have become more popular among drivers, and are playing a significant role in car accident cases and the legal process that follows. Dash cams record the road ahead of you, and sometimes behind you while you drive. They provide an unbiased, real-time account of events on the road, offering valuable evidence in cases where fault or liability is disputed. Dash cams are growing in popularity as incidents like staged car crashes and insurance scams, as seen in this viral video of a car purposefully backing into another, continue to surface. Dash cam evidence is particularly useful when an accident occurs in a high-traffic area, at an intersection, or was a hit-and-run.

Dash cam footage has become important in the insurance claims process, where the footage can speed up the settlement process. When both parties have dash cams, insurers can cross-reference the footage to resolve claims quickly and fairly. For example, footage showing a rear-end collision often makes it clear who is at fault, which can result in quicker claim processing and liability determinations. Dash cams can also help with accidents you weren’t involved in and your witness footage can be offered as evidence.

Miguel Custodio of Custodio & Dubey, was recently quoted in Success Magazine on the value of dash cams. “Install a dash cam, which provides real-time and objective footage that documents, and can clarify, the circumstances leading up to an accident,” he said. “Make sure it records front and rear views, in order to capture as much information as possible.”

Other Advice

Miguel advises that getting as much documentation of the accident as possible is going to be beneficial. “There is no better tool to document the aftermath of an accident than your smartphone. Take photos AND video. You want to shoot photos and video of vehicle damage – to your vehicle and to all other involved vehicles — road conditions, any signage, the area of the collision, and any injuries. You can also use it to collect information from witnesses, including their names and contact information.”

Lastly, Miguel wants to remind everyone, “One tip that often gets overlooked is maintenance records on your vehicle. If you keep detailed records, they can prove that your vehicle was in good working order at the time of an accident. This can be valuable in legal cases, or even when tangling with insurance companies.”

Click HERE to visit our Instagram page for more of Miguel’s dash cam insight.

Dash cams are easily accessible and available for purchase at large retailers such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy. There’s a wide range to choose from with prices ranging from $40 to $400. We hope you never get into an accident, but if you do, we hope you take these tips into account to protect yourself. Safe driving!

Reach out to CD Law if you or a loved one were hurt in an auto accident.