How Dashcam Footage Can Make or Break Your Car Accident Claim

If you’ve spent any time on Utah’s highways lately, you’ve probably noticed something new: more and more cars have little cameras mounted to their windshields. They’re small, quiet, and often forgotten until something goes wrong.

For many drivers, that small piece of technology can make all the difference when a crash occurs. A dashcam can turn a confusing “he said, she said” argument into clear, objective evidence. It can show exactly how fast someone was going, when the light changed, or who drifted out of their lane first.

But not every dashcam story is simple. Over the years, I’ve seen this kind of footage both save a case and nearly sink one. Understanding how dashcam evidence works—and how to use it the right way—can make or break your personal injury claim in Utah.

The Rise of the Dashboard Witness

Dashcams used to be rare, mostly used by commercial drivers or police vehicles. Now, they’re as common as phone chargers. With affordable, high-definition options available for under $100, everyday drivers are using them for security and peace of mind.

In Utah, there’s no law against installing a dashcam in your personal vehicle, as long as it doesn’t obstruct your view. Many insurance companies even encourage it, since footage can help clarify what really happened in a collision.

But while a dashcam may feel like a silent witness, it’s not automatically decisive evidence. Courts and insurers will look closely at how it’s used, what it shows, and whether it can be trusted.

When Dashcam Footage Can Help

A dashcam can be one of the most valuable tools in a personal injury claim—if the footage is clear and relevant. It can show:

• Which driver had the right of way

• The color of the traffic light

• The speed of each vehicle

• Lane positions before and after impact

• Dangerous maneuvers like tailgating or sudden stops

• Weather, lighting, and road conditions

  
  

This kind of visual evidence can carry enormous weight. Eyewitness memories fade, and written statements are often incomplete or conflicting. A few seconds of video can bring everything into focus.

For example, in a rear-end collision, insurance companies often assume the rear driver is at fault. But a dashcam might show that the lead car stopped suddenly for no reason, or even backed up into traffic. In Utah, where comparative negligence rules apply, those details can change who ultimately pays for damages.

When Dashcam Footage Can Hurt

Of course, not every video helps the person who recorded it. Dashcams are impartial—they show everything, even the moments we’d rather forget.

I once had a client who came to me after a highway crash near Lehi. She was adamant that the other driver had merged into her lane without signaling. She’d even been smart enough to install a dashcam, which she thought would prove her innocence.

When we reviewed the footage together, it told a different story. The other driver had drifted, yes—but my client had also been looking at her GPS screen for about two seconds before reacting. The video showed her steering too late and clipping the other car’s bumper.

It was a difficult conversation. The footage didn’t make her look reckless, but it showed enough distraction that the insurance company argued she shared responsibility for the crash. Fortunately, I was able to negotiate a reduced fault percentage under Utah’s comparative negligence law, which allowed her to recover the majority of her damages despite partial responsibility.

That experience taught me something important: dashcams don’t lie, but they also don’t always tell the story you want them to. They tell the truth—and sometimes, that truth has to be managed carefully within the law.

What Utah Law Says About Using Dashcam Footage

In Utah, dashcam footage is generally admissible as evidence, as long as it’s relevant and authentic. That means it must be shown to accurately depict the event without manipulation.

Courts treat video evidence just like any other document—it must be authenticated. Usually, that’s done through testimony from the person who installed the camera, a timestamp on the video, or the device’s metadata.

If you’re in a crash and have footage, it’s important to preserve it right away. Make a backup copy and don’t edit or cut the file. Even small edits can make the footage appear unreliable or raise accusations of tampering.

In some cases, opposing parties might request to see the footage through discovery, and failing to produce it could harm your credibility. If your footage helps your case, it can be submitted as part of your claim or introduced at trial. If it doesn’t, your attorney can help you understand your rights before it’s disclosed.

How Dashcams Affect Insurance Claims

From an insurance standpoint, dashcams can speed up or slow down the claims process—depending on what they show.

If the footage clearly supports your version of events, you can submit it early to prove liability and strengthen your settlement demand. Many Utah insurers will fast-track such cases, especially when fault is obvious.

On the other hand, if the video raises questions about speed, distraction, or unsafe behavior, insurers may use it to minimize or deny your claim. That’s why it’s always smart to talk to your attorney before sharing footage directly with an adjuster.

I once represented a young man from Ogden who was sideswiped while merging onto I-15. The other driver claimed he had changed lanes too abruptly. My client had dashcam footage, but the video also showed he was traveling about ten miles over the speed limit. He was tempted to send it to the insurer right away, thinking it would clear things up.

Instead, we reviewed it together, and I handled the disclosure carefully. By presenting the footage in context—explaining that the other driver had drifted over the lane line—we were able to demonstrate that my client’s slight speed wasn’t the primary cause. He received full compensation for his injuries and vehicle damage.

The lesson was simple: dashcam footage is powerful, but how it’s used matters just as much as what it shows.

Protecting and Preserving Your Footage

If you’re involved in an accident and have dashcam footage, preserving it properly is crucial. Here’s what to do:

1. Stop the recording immediately after the crash and remove the memory card if it’s safe to do so.

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3. Make two copies—one stored securely on a computer or external drive, and another on cloud storage.

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5. Do not alter, trim, or rename the file. Leave the metadata intact.

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7. Inform your attorney that the footage exists, even if you’re not sure it helps.

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Once your attorney has reviewed the footage, they can determine whether and how to introduce it during settlement negotiations or litigation.

Sometimes, just letting the other side know you have clear video evidence is enough to prompt a faster, fairer settlement. Other times, it’s better to hold the footage until it can be used strategically.

What About Privacy?

A common question I hear is whether dashcams violate privacy laws. In Utah, the answer is generally no. You have the right to record anything visible from a public road.

Audio recording is even easier. Utah is a “one-party consent” state for recordings, meaning you can legally record conversations if you’re part of them. Even if your dashcam captures passengers or bystanders talking without their knowledge, those people likely do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy if they are talking with you or someone else in your car.

For most car accident cases, the focus is on the video, not the sound. Still, it’s worth knowing the limits and using the technology responsibly.

When Dashcam Footage Isn’t Enough

Even the best footage doesn’t always capture everything. A dashcam usually records what’s directly ahead—but not the sides, rear, or inside the car. Important details, like whether a driver was distracted or if brake lights were working, may still require other evidence.

That’s why we build every case with a combination of tools: photos, witness statements, accident reconstruction, and sometimes expert testimony. A video can anchor the narrative, but it’s rarely the whole story.

I often tell clients that dashcam footage is like a single puzzle piece. It’s powerful because it’s real, but it still needs to fit within the broader legal picture to show what really happened.

Should Every Driver Have a Dashcam?

In my view, yes. The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Dashcams can protect you from false claims, provide clarity after a stressful event, and even encourage safer driving simply because you know you’re being recorded.

For families with teenage drivers, they can also serve as training tools. Reviewing footage can help young drivers see what they could have done differently without the emotional heat of the moment.

But as with any evidence, context matters. A dashcam isn’t a substitute for caution—it’s a supplement. The best defense against an accident is still attentiveness, patience, and respect for the road.

Final Thoughts

Technology has changed how we experience driving in Utah. Cars are smarter, roads are busier, and distractions are everywhere. Amid all that, the humble dashcam has become one of the most effective truth-tellers we have.

Whether it helps or hurts depends on how we use it—and how honestly we confront what it shows. I’ve seen dashcams exonerate clients unfairly accused of fault. I’ve also seen them expose small mistakes that could have ruined a claim if handled carelessly.

In the end, the camera doesn’t judge; it records. The real work lies in interpreting that footage within the framework of Utah law, ensuring that justice—not just data—guides the outcome.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and have dashcam footage, or even if you’re unsure whether your video helps your case, reach out to The Legal Beagle. We can review your footage, assess liability, and make sure it’s used to your best advantage.

Call us today for a free consultation, or visit mylegalbeagle.com to schedule a review. A few seconds of video can make or break your claim—but with the right help, it can make all the difference.