Police Reports, Dashcam Video and Car Crash Evidence
The evidence in a car crash claim starts to scatter within hours. Vehicles get towed and repaired, video is overwritten and witnesses become hard to reach. A car accident attorney usually looks first at the police report, photos, video and the data stored in the vehicles. This article explains how each source fits into a claim.
The police report
Officers who respond to a crash usually prepare a crash report, sometimes called a police report. It usually records who was driving each vehicle and which insurer covers it, along with a diagram, a short narrative and any citations issued. Many states also require drivers to report crashes that involve injury, death or property damage above a set amount. Copies are usually available from the agency that responded, whether that is a city police department, a sheriff's office or the state highway patrol, often for a small fee.
Insurers rely heavily on the crash report, but it does not decide fault. Rules on using an officer's opinions at trial vary by state. If the report contains a factual error, such as a wrong plate number, the agency may accept a request for a correction or a supplement. An auto accident attorney will check the report against the photos and statements.
Video and photo evidence
Dashcam video can show the moments before a crash more clearly than any witness. Save the original file with its date and time stamp, rather than a phone recording of the screen, and make a backup copy. Traffic cameras and nearby businesses may also have recorded the crash, but many systems overwrite footage within days or weeks. Photos taken at the scene show vehicle positions, debris, skid marks and road signs, and photos of injuries taken over several weeks can show how they changed.
The event data recorder
Many cars and light trucks carry an event data recorder (EDR). NHTSA describes an EDR as a device that records technical vehicle and occupant information for a brief period, seconds rather than minutes, surrounding a crash. Depending on the vehicle, it may record speed and braking, along with seat belt use. NHTSA's rule in 49 CFR Part 563 sets requirements for EDRs in light vehicles that have them. Under the Driver Privacy Act of 2015, EDR data generally belongs to the vehicle owner or lessee, and others may access it only in limited situations, such as with the owner's consent or a court order.
EDR data can be lost when a car is repaired or sold for salvage. Insurers often move a total loss vehicle to a salvage auction quickly, so a car accident attorney may send a preservation letter asking the insurer or tow yard to hold the vehicle until the data can be downloaded.
Witnesses and medical records
Witnesses with no stake in the claim often carry weight. Collect their names and phone numbers at the scene when it is safe. Medical records connect the injuries to the crash, and insurers often point to https://beckettigcj006.evergrovio.com/posts/how-crash-reports-and-dashcam-video-shape-a-car-accident-claim gaps in treatment to dispute a claim. Keeping the claim number in one place, with a log of each call to the adjuster, makes later questions easier to answer. A short journal of pain levels and missed work, written while the details are fresh, can also help. This is general information rather than legal advice, and no result can be predicted from it.