Earlier in San Diego, after a car crash, the cops would look into the versions of events given by both car drivers. With time, things have become more layered and complicated. Both the cops and lawyers now rely more on digital evidence than on witnesses or physical evidence. As in-car technology keeps evolving, they are relying more on devices and stuff like dashcams and modern weather apps.
Dashcams are now crucial
Dashcams used to be something you’d mostly see in commercial trucking or high-end cars. That is no longer the case. Now, almost all types of cars feature a dashcam. They are as normal as a phone mount. Here’s why dashcams are useful for car crash investigations:
- They capture footage of the moments right before impact, which usually settles arguments about who was at fault.
- It shows the distance, which can show if the driver was tailgating before a rear-end collision.
- It helps prove the driver acted like drifting out of a lane or braking suddenly for no clear reason.
In many cases, available dashcam footage has helped attorneys establish their cases. Insurance adjusters find it tough to use legal loopholes when there is clear footage. Veteran car accident attorneys consider this major digital evidence.
The drawback that exists
Having dashcam footage helps in strengthening a car accident claim. But the footage magically settles everything on its own. Video can be misleading, too. If the timestamp is off because nobody ever bothered to sync the clock, that can be an issue.
Sometimes, footage can also raise new questions instead of answering old ones. For example, it shows something the driver wasn’t expecting to be caught doing, like using a phone right before the crash. That can turn the case.
Weather data as a backup proof
While dashcams get most of the attention, weather tracking has become just as useful in car accident claims. San Diego doesn’t get dramatic weather most of the year, but there can be erratic changes. A sudden coastal fog rolling in off the water, or an unexpected downpour during one of the rare winter storms, can affect road and driving conditions. With weather-tracking apps, such changes are easy to monitor. Weather services and apps log historical data that lawyers can use, including the following:
- Whether roads were likely wet, and for how long before the crash
- Exact visibility conditions at a specific time and location
- Sunrise and sunset angles, which matter more than people think on certain San Diego roads.
These apps give minute temperature and visibility details that can be used to establish such cases. If a driver claims they couldn’t see because of sun glare, historical weather and sun-position data can accurately confirm or refute that claim.
Summing it up
After a car crash, you should try to preserve the dashcam footage and gather weather data from your app. These will be useful for the lawyer later. Do not delay in seeking legal help. If you are unsure about lawyers who are experts in using these technologies, contact the practitioners at hhjtrialattorneys.com.