Dashcam may save you $$$$$$

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted by DriveHard
Originally Posted by Jethro_Bob
Originally Posted by Oldtom
Dishdude, you could carry a DATA SECURITY DEVICE to erase the info on your dashcam if needed. Another name for DATA SECURITY DEVICE is a 32 ounce ball peen hammer ...†


And that would be a felony. Just don't mention it, save the old video together with the camera(at least until the statute of limitations is over), and buy a replacement camera. That way if the other party finds out about it and files discovery, you can claim "I stopped using that camera and forgot all about it after the accident, but I still have it somewhere." At that point it will be used against you but it would be so much worse if you couldn't produce it.

*Disclaimer, I am not a lawyer.*


It is a felony to destroy my own property? My camera, my data...I don't get it. If I want to destroy my own property, not sure you could stop me.


It's no different then you hitting a pedestrian with your vehicle and then having the body work repaired in an attempt to cover it up.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted by road_rascal
Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Originally Posted by daves87rs
With the two near misses i had in the last three weeks or so, i am totally looking at one now.

Never seen this kind of crazy in all my years of driving lately.....


Why would u think that you need a dash cam? Unless hit-n-runs are a huge issue I just can't envision a scenario where you'd need one.


I've been using dashcams for about 6 years now. I've had 3 instances where having the dashcam saved my insurance rates. First was a nutty driver who sideswiped me in a construction zone (she told the State Trooper that I intentionally hit her car but the video showed otherwise), second was a lawn care company dropping debris on the highway causing over $2500 in damages (cracked windshield and front paint damage) and lastly was ice/snow coming off of a semi trailer cracking the windshield. When crashes/ collisions occur the other party may lie like crazy to get out of fault. My wife's dashcam caught this collision a few days ago: Minor collision



First issue; you don't know that the Trooper believed the nutty driver.
Second issue; This type of damage is usually explicitly covered or not.
Third issue, a camera isn't really needed. The location of the damage tells the story.

 

[nthach]

I use a Nexar one I got via an offer on a Facebook ad - it was free since I was a beta tester. I've seen some close calls so far. Since there's a big issue with insurance fraud and hit & runs in my area, I have one to keep myself and everyone else honest.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Originally Posted by DriveHard


It is a felony to destroy my own property? My camera, my data...I don't get it. If I want to destroy my own property, not sure you could stop me.


It's no different then you hitting a pedestrian with your vehicle and then having the body work repaired in an attempt to cover it up.


For an added shock value, I would compare it to throwing a gun into a river after it was used to murder someone....

In reality, these cameras are on a recording loop. They delete footage as the card gets full and all manufacturers set it as a default setting. So good luck proving someone intentiannly destroyed footage.

 

[road_rascal]

Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Originally Posted by road_rascal
Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Originally Posted by daves87rs
With the two near misses i had in the last three weeks or so, i am totally looking at one now.

Never seen this kind of crazy in all my years of driving lately.....


Why would u think that you need a dash cam? Unless hit-n-runs are a huge issue I just can't envision a scenario where you'd need one.


I've been using dashcams for about 6 years now. I've had 3 instances where having the dashcam saved my insurance rates. First was a nutty driver who sideswiped me in a construction zone (she told the State Trooper that I intentionally hit her car but the video showed otherwise), second was a lawn care company dropping debris on the highway causing over $2500 in damages (cracked windshield and front paint damage) and lastly was ice/snow coming off of a semi trailer cracking the windshield. When crashes/ collisions occur the other party may lie like crazy to get out of fault. My wife's dashcam caught this collision a few days ago: Minor collision



First issue; you don't know that the Trooper believed the nutty driver.
Second issue; This type of damage is usually explicitly covered or not.
Third issue, a camera isn't really needed. The location of the damage tells the story.


Dealing with insurance it absolutely matters. In the first two instances video showed that the other party was 100% at fault, which meant that I was able to recover my deductible and my insurance company was able to collect damages from the other peoples insurance. When I showed the Trooper the video (the first case) he wrote the other driver a ticket for failing to maintain a single lane. That would have never happened if I didn't have the dashcam video.

 

[Jethro_Bob]

Originally Posted by KrisZ
Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Originally Posted by DriveHard


It is a felony to destroy my own property? My camera, my data...I don't get it. If I want to destroy my own property, not sure you could stop me.


It's no different then you hitting a pedestrian with your vehicle and then having the body work repaired in an attempt to cover it up.


For an added shock value, I would compare it to throwing a gun into a river after it was used to murder someone....

In reality, these cameras are on a recording loop. They delete footage as the card gets full and all manufacturers set it as a default setting. So good luck proving someone intentiannly destroyed footage.


Unless you can convince a judge you had absolutely no knowledge of an accident, you have a legal responsibility to preserve any and all evidence. Even evidence that can be used against you.

 

[Jethro_Bob]

Originally Posted by IndyFan
Originally Posted by Jethro_Bob
Originally Posted by Oldtom
Dishdude, you could carry a DATA SECURITY DEVICE to erase the info on your dashcam if needed. Another name for DATA SECURITY DEVICE is a 32 ounce ball peen hammer ...†


And that would be a felony. Just don't mention it, save the old video together with the camera(at least until the statute of limitations is over), and buy a replacement camera. That way if the other party finds out about it and files discovery, you can claim "I stopped using that camera and forgot all about it after the accident, but I still have it somewhere." At that point it will be used against you but it would be so much worse if you couldn't produce it.

*Disclaimer, I am not a lawyer.*


As dishonest as you seem to be, you are exactly the kind person I'd be looking to protect myself against with a dash cam. Shameful.



On one hand, I fully agree with you. On the other hand, a felony convection will follow someone for the rest of their life. Permanently limiting their ability to get a good job, live in a community with good schools, (background checks for rental houses, and home loans when its the same banks that loan money to real estate developers to build sub-divisions. Which can even prevent his children form going to a decent school. And a poor job means a poor income preventing saving for retirement. At some point, destroying someones life so completely over a single stupid mistake, it could be reasonably argued it's much more humane to put them down like a rabid dog.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted by Jethro_Bob


Unless you can convince a judge you had absolutely no knowledge of an accident, you have a legal responsibility to preserve any and all evidence. Even evidence that can be used against you.


Are you sure your not thinking of criminal cases? My preliminary search for traffic law shows no such requirement. If you came forward as a witness and said you had footage of it, then I would agree that you would have to preserve the footage.
But if you were just driving by and recorded the accident, I don't see how you have to keep it. How would you know the accident you just recorded will go to litigation in the first place?

By that logic every little scrape, fender bender or even a traffic violation would have to be preserved. Then the question is for how long? It simply makes no sense.