Why The Dashcam is Your Best Witness

Dashcams, also known as dashboard-mounted cameras, are becoming increasingly popular among drivers for various reasons. Typically, dashcams are always recording if the car is on, which means you’ll have video proof of what really happened in any traffic stop, accident, or other incident.

These “silent witnesses” provide reliable and invaluable evidence that can be used for insurance claims as well as in court.

Why Dashcams Are Your Best Witness

In the event you are in an accident, especially one that was not your fault, having evidence is invaluable to have proof to back you up. Some accident scenes will have eyewitnesses or bystanders who can give statements to the police about what they saw. But not every accident has eyewitnesses, and even if they did, not all eyewitnesses can provide exact details and descriptions about what happened.

There are also scenarios where an accident is not the issue at hand, but the dashcam can still come in handy. It could be a traffic stop and a police officer wrongfully placing blame on the driver. In these instances, a dashcam is such a valuable resource and “eyewitness” because it shows visually how the events took place.

Are Dashcams Acceptable Evidence in Court?

The popularity of dashcams has increased significantly. They are a lot easier to use than manually recording events with your personal phone and they also can record the events leading up to and after the incident, accident, etc. To give them even more of an advantage, dashcams most often also have a wide-angle lens, which allows for more area to be in view during the recording.

With the ease of use and the increasing popularity of dashcams, they are almost always accepted in court as evidence. This means that as long as the court can authenticate the footage, meaning it was not doctored or edited (and it did not break any laws in obtaining the footage) a judge will allow the evidence.

Are Dashcams Legal in Florida?

Dashcams provide valuable and irrefutable evidence, but are they allowed in Florida?

Yes! Dashcams are allowed in Florida as long as they do not affect your ability to drive and operate your car safely and it does not impact your ability to see your surroundings. Florida Statute 316.2004 states that nothing can be placed in your car’s windshield area that can obstruct the driver’s front or side view. So, if you do plan to use a dashcam just make sure you are not obstructing your view, as that is against the law.

If you have a dashcam that uses audio recording, it is important to know that under Florida’s “wiretapping” law (Florida Statute 934.03), if you are using audio recording you do have to inform and ask permission of anyone inside your vehicle that they are being recorded. But even without the audio recordings, the dashcam footage is still valuable evidence in court.

Mickey Keenan, P.A. Your Car Accident and Personal Injury Attorney

Dashcams are an inexpensive yet powerful safety measure that can save you a lot of time and money in the legal process. If you were involved in an accident or the subject of an unlawful traffic stop and have a dashcam recording, you need to immediately seek legal counsel.

At Mickey Keenan, P.A. we understand how valuable dashcam recordings are as valuable court evidence. We will review your recordings and prepare the best legal defense to clear your charges or to help you recover the appropriate compensation needed for your injuries, damage expenses, and pain and suffering.

Call us today at 813-871-1300 for a free consultation. Your family is our family.