The Role of Dash Cam Footage in Car Accident Claims
As car accident law continues to evolve in Florida, one thing has become clear—video evidence from a dashcam can often tip the balance in your favor. At Reese Legal, we’ve worked with many clients who were unsure how to prove what really happened in the moments leading up to their car accident. In many of those cases, dashcam footage proved to be a powerful piece of evidence.
Often, the right footage can support your claim, challenge false statements, clarify the sequence of events, and even speed up the resolution process. Insurance companies and courts take visual evidence seriously, especially when it’s timestamped and clearly shows who was at fault.
That’s why we encourage drivers to consider installing dashcams and to understand how that footage can be used under Florida law. This blog explores how dash cam footage plays into car accident law in Florida and what you should know if you’ve been involved in a crash.
Why Dash Cam Footage Matters
In any car accident claim, credibility is critical. Florida follows a comparative fault system, which means that both drivers can share blame, and your compensation can be reduced based on your percentage of fault.
If someone claims you were speeding, drifting between lanes, or ignoring traffic signals, dashcam footage can provide a clear, objective view of what happened. Unlike witness statements or testimony, it doesn’t forget details, it doesn’t get nervous under pressure, and it doesn’t twist facts to protect one side or the other. Some common aspects of car accident cases that dashcam footage can help corroborate include:
Whether a driver ran a red light
Whether another vehicle made an illegal turn
Whether someone braked suddenly without cause
Whether a distracted driver was using a phone
What the speed and road conditions were at the time of the crash
This type of proof often helps your attorney build a stronger case on your behalf and negotiate better settlements to avoid drawn-out court battles.
Dashcams and Florida Law
Under Florida law, you have the right to record video on public roads as long as it doesn’t interfere with your view or violate any traffic laws. This means that dashcams are entirely legal, and their footage can be submitted as evidence in court or during settlement negotiations.
Florida also follows a two-party consent rule regarding audio recordings. This means that if your dashcam records sound inside the car, you must have the consent of everyone being recorded. However, for video-only recordings of road activity, there are no consent issues.
At Reese Legal, we always advise our clients to use dashcams that focus on visual recording and are securely mounted. A clear video, properly stored, and date-stamped holds more weight in car accident law than shaky or blurry clips that could be challenged in court.
Insurance Companies Take Video Seriously
When you file a car accident claim in Florida, your insurance company or the other party’s will review the available evidence before making a decision. If you present dashcam footage that clearly shows the other driver’s actions, adjusters are more likely to take your claim seriously.
At Reese Legal, we've encountered cases where an insurance company initially denied fault, only to reverse their decision after we shared video showing their client weaving through traffic or ignoring a stop sign. This kind of turnaround isn’t uncommon. Our attorney is committed to using every available legal tool to help our clients succeed, and dashcam footage provides a strong foundation when building a car accident claim.
When Footage Works Against You
Of course, video works both ways. If you were at fault or partly at fault, your dashcam footage could reveal it. That’s why we review all video evidence carefully before using it in court or presenting it during a claim. In some cases, dashcam footage can reveal that both drivers made mistakes, which remains significant in a state like Florida that employs a modified comparative negligence standard.
If you’re involved in a crash and have dashcam footage, don’t delete it. Talk to a legal professional first. We often find that even when footage shows some fault, it still helps us build a strong, honest case, which can often work in your favor.
How Dashcam Footage Is Used in a Case
Once you have the footage, it's important to preserve it immediately. Then, work with an experienced attorney who can evaluate whether it can be used to support your claim and how it could fit with other evidence, such as police reports, witness statements, and photos of the scene.
Your attorney may enhance the footage for clarity, especially if lighting or weather conditions make the original video hard to interpret. They may also work with accident reconstruction professionals who can review the footage and identify key moments that support your version of events.
If the case goes to trial, your attorney can prepare to show the footage to a judge or jury in a way that clearly demonstrates liability. However, in many cases, the footage never makes it that far. Insurance companies often settle more quickly once they see the strength of the evidence.
However, even with solid dashcam footage, you generally have only two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you wait too long, the evidence won’t matter, and your case can be dismissed. The sooner you can review footage, gather other evidence, and evaluate your damages, the better your chances of a full recovery.
What Makes Dash Cam Footage Effective
Video clarity: The footage must be easy to see, with minimal glare or distortion. The cleaner the image, the stronger the evidence.
Time and date stamps: Timestamps help prove exactly when the incident occurred and how long specific actions took, such as braking or turning.
Wide field of view: A camera that captures multiple lanes or the rear of the car offers more context for the crash.
Angle and positioning: Properly mounted cameras minimize blind spots and provide clearer details of road conditions and traffic signs.
Consistent recording: The footage should show the moments before, during, and after the crash. Any gaps in recording can raise questions.
No tampering: Edited or incomplete footage may be challenged in court. We always advise clients to keep raw, original files.
Audio (optional): While not required, audio can sometimes support your claim, such as capturing horn honks or a driver's admission of fault.
By using this list, you and your attorney can assess the strength of any footage before including it in your claim. The better the video, the easier it is to support your side of the story.
Can Dash Cams Replace Other Evidence?
While dash cam footage is valuable, it’s not a substitute for other types of evidence. You should still rely on witness statements, medical reports, police documentation, and vehicle damage assessments. The best car accident law cases use all available sources to create a complete picture.
In Florida, you have the burden of proving fault and damages. Dashcam footage can make that burden lighter, but you should never rely on it as your sole source of evidence. Instead, use it to build credibility and strengthen your case from every angle.
How Our Firm Can Help
Dashcams don’t prevent accidents, but they can avoid dishonest claims by leveling the playing field when the other driver denies responsibility or when witnesses disagree. They provide peace of mind, and they can be the difference between a fair settlement and walking away with nothing.
If you’ve been in an accident and have dashcam footage, reach out to our experienced car accident attorney today. We’ll assess its strength and advise you on how to proceed based on Florida’s car accident laws. If you don’t have footage, don’t worry—we know how to build a strong case using other methods, too.
Located in Orlando, Florida, we serve clients throughout Windermere, Winter Park, Bay Hill, and Doctor Phillips. Our office is conveniently situated just one mile from Universal Studios, allowing us to assist tourists, visitors, and Florida residents alike. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.