What are dash cams?
A dash cam is a tiny camera mounted on your vehicle’s dash or windshield. It records everything on the road and stores it on a memory card for later review. Dash cams are especially useful in car accident situations. A dash cam can provide valuable evidence to help determine the at-fault party in a vehicle collision or accident.
Why should you use a dash cam?
There have been a lot of reports on insurance scams. The most common example is driving on the highway when the car in front slams on the brakes. In this situation the driver in the rear vehicle will often be deemed at fault by default. A dash cam could record the entire incident so that it can be provided to the insurance company.
See this video for an example:
Are Dash Cams legal in Alberta?
When it comes to recording in public, you should be in the clear. Canadian privacy regulations state that in the event of a recording, at least one of the parties involved must be aware of the recording. Which means that you may record your driving and other around you. You should steer clear or turn off the camera if you are entering secured areas, such as Military bases or areas where cameras and recording is prohibited.
It is also recommended to inform your insurance company of your dash cam as they may have a special discount for drivers using one.
What kind of dash cam to get?
Some dashcams are better than others. In a recent report by CBC, the Canadian Automobile Association stated a neutral position towards dash cams but encouraged drivers to use a model which is autonomous and does not distract the driver.
“If it’s just sitting there and just recording, you don’t have to touch it, then it’s fine,” D’Arbelles said. “If all of a sudden you have to fiddle with it while you’re driving and moving it around…then that becomes an issue because that could become an added distraction behind the wheel and could actually cause an accident instead of trying to prevent one.” – CBC News
What to do after an accident?
If you got into an accident and have a dash cam, make sure to inform your personal injury lawyer about the footage, as it can be used as evidence to sustain your case. Contact AssiffLaw for more information.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We strongly encourage you to seek the advice of an Alberta Injury Lawyer before making any decisions
