Dashboard cameras or “dash cams” are used to record the events that transpire when someone is driving. Some of them record both audio and video. Dash cams are common in law enforcement settings, but now more and more civilian drivers are turning to dash cams in case they are involved in an accident. Many users of dash cams believe they provide an extra layer of protection in case they are involved in an accident, and there is a dispute about what happened.
Are Dash Cams Legal in New York?
Dash cams are legal in New York as long as they are not mounted in such a way that they block a driver’s vision. Recording video on public roads is legal as anything done in public is not protected by privacy laws. They cannot be used to interfere in a rescue operation or law enforcement action.
Dash Cams Tell the Truth
Dash cams can be helpful in a car accident situation for a myriad of different reasons, including:
- Lending authority to your version of events, even if there were no other witnesses to the accident.
- Settling disputes when drivers lie or distort the circumstances surrounding an accident
- Clearing up issues regarding memories of what happened
- Clearing up any errors in police reports
- Capturing images that can be useful in determining what happened in the accident
Dash cams are an affordable way of protecting yourself in the event of an accident. Many dash cams can be purchased for under $40. The more bells and whistles a dash cam includes, the higher the price.
Limitations of Dash Cams
While dash cam footage can be very helpful in establishing what happened in a car accident, there are some limitations. Sometimes the camera is not pointed in the right direction to determine what occurred. In some cases, the footage may be too grainy and unclear to get any meaningful information from it. This is why having additional evidence is important in a car accident claim.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a car accident and you have dash cam footage, you should turn it over to an experienced car accident attorney. The attorneys at Bonina & Bonina, P.C. have been helping New Yorkers injured in car accidents for over 50 years. Contact us online or call us at 1-888-MEDLAW1 to schedule your free consultation. Home and hospital visits are available. Se habla español.