Dash cams are easy and convenient systems that can record high quality evidence to protect your evidence, but you need to understand the systems to avoid overpaying or losing your evidence when you need it the most. Before rushing out to buy the most expensive system or assuming your legal power without a plan, here are a few dash cam system details to make your setup more reliable.
How Do Dash Cams Work?
Dash cams get their name from the old way of mounting them on the dashboard, but that's hardly the right way to do things now. Modern dash cams are wide-view lens camera that can record a widescreen image of your windshield.
The best way to mount these cameras is by using the ceiling area just over or behind the front seats. In a truck, this usually means somewhere near the interior lights. The closest thing you should get to a dashboard mounting would be placing the camera on the sides of the windshield borders, because you don't want your view obscured by the camera system.
Modern dash cams record video at modern HD standards, which means a minimum of 720p. This number describes how many pixels are packed into an image to create higher levels of details. Another popular standard just about 720p is 1080p, which comes with even higher levels of hardware requirements.
Recording Quality And Storage Space
The higher the quality, the more storage space you need. Think of a higher resolution image or video as an object that has more and more items added to it. 1080p videos are digitally and physically (in terms of actual storage space taken up) larger than 720p videos, and you need to get the proper supporting devices.
The size of the storage device determines how long you can record without having to change drives or overwrite old information. You should aim for about 3 or 4 or recording space at the very least, no matter the quality type.
The more days you can record, the harder it will be to overwrite vital accident evidence if you accidentally leave the camera on for days after an accident. You need to weigh the price of additional storage space versus simply sticking with 720p (or lower) image quality, but keep in mind that anything below 720p may be too grainy or low quality to prove your point in court.
Protect Your Evidence And Legal Advantages
One mistake that many people make after an accident is yelling to the world about your dash cam. Emotions run high and adrenaline may be pumping, but there is little to no benefit to getting an "a ha!" moment in on your future legal opponent at the scene of an accident.
If it's an honest accident, but a confusing or less than honest argument over fault, your camera will be necessary in court. At the very earliest, you can let police officers know that you have a dash camera. Telling the others involved in the accident may cue them to break into your car or attack you to get rid of the evidence, even in fraud situations.
Dash cam recording is also limited to the accident event itself. It isn't used for recording conversations or spying, and state laws governing such surveillance must be followed. Contact a truck accident attorney to discuss dash cams and ways that they can protect your innocence.
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