How Dashcam Footage Can Help in Faster Car Insurance Claims

Understanding the Role of Dashcam Footage in Insurance Claims

A dashcam is a small camera that car owners can install on their car’s dashboard or windshield to record the road ahead while driving. 

If you ever encounter a road accident due to another driver’s fault, you can use this captured footage as visual evidence while submitting a claim request. Since many insurance companies now accept dashcam footage as credible evidence, drivers cannot risk not installing this device in their cars. 

Clear dashcam footage can speed up your car insurance claim by providing an unbiased, timestamped record of the accident. Insurers can use it to determine fault while tackling fraudulent insurance claims.
 

How Dashcam Footage Speeds Up Claims

Dashcam footage can accelerate your car insurance claim process in the following ways:

• Determines the Real Culprit Faster

Insurers can review dashcam footage to determine what happened during the road accident and who was at fault. Since the footage is raw and unbiased, it removes any ambiguity from the case.  

• Facilitates Quicker Damage Assessment

The dashcam footage can help insurers assess the severity of the accident, enabling them to confirm the actual damage to a car. Since the footage clearly shows visible dents, broken parts, and airbag deployment, surveyors can assess damage without conducting extended physical inspections. It shortens the approval loop for cashless repairs or claim reimbursements. 

• Reduces Dependency on Subjective Eyewitnesses

Eyewitness statements may change over time,, as people may start forgetting finer details. If they give conflicting statements every time the police or insurer calls them, it can significantly weaken your case and lead to lower claim amount approvals. 

However, dashcam footage doesn’t show conflicting clips at different times. This timestamped video is objective and preserves the scene exactly as it occurred. It removes reliance on memory, lowering the need for multiple witness statements and facilitating faster claim approvals.   

• Lowers Delays from Lengthy Paperwork

When you upload dashcam footage and metadata (GPS, timestamp) with the initial claim request, insurers need comparatively fewer follow-up inspections or reenactments to validate the event. It translates to fewer surveyor visits and fewer requests for supplementary documents, which eventually result in shorter settlement timelines. 

• Preventing Insurance Fraud with Dashcams

Dashcams can help prevent insurance fraud by providing an unbiased, unedited recording of the accident. If a person attempts to stage a fake road accident to obtain insurance benefits, the insurance company can easily verify the authenticity of the claim by reviewing dashcam footage.
 

Common Scenarios Where Dashcams are Crucial

The following are a few common scenarios where dashcam footage is invaluable:

• Rear-end Collision

Rear-end collisions are common in crowded locations, and they often lead to arguments about sudden braking, lane changes, or tailgating. If you have dashcam footage, you can use it to show the vehicle distance, speed, brake lights, and collision impact. 

Insurers can use these clips to quickly determine who was at fault, rather than relying on conflicting statements from drivers. 

• Hit-and-Run Cases

Hit-and-run cases are the most difficult to solve because the offending driver usually escapes the scene immediately after the accident. Having a dashcam installed in your car can save you in such cases. 

A dashcam will typically capture the license/number plate, vehicle make, colour, and direction in which the car escaped, so both police and insurers can get reliable leads to launch a fruitful investigation. It can significantly reduce the investigation time and support faster claim approval for the victim.   

• Parking Lot Damages

If you park your car in a small, congested, or poorly lit parking lot, then there is a high chance that another vehicle may damage it while you are trying to leave the parking space. It often leads to minor scratches and other low-impact damage, which are common in such parking lot accidents. 

Even if there were no witnesses in the parking lot, your dashcam recording can help you identify the vehicle responsible for the damage. You can share this footage with your insurer to support your claim and get faster approvals for cashless repairs.

• Accidents with no Third-Party Witnesses

Road accidents that occur late at night or on highways may not always have people around to witness the entire accident. It makes it challenging for drivers to find witnesses who can give statements to confirm and verify the accident. 

However, you can use your dashcam footage as the primary witness. Since it records the accident scene, insurers can quickly review it to determine liability. The recording can remove the need to collect statements from multiple witnesses to confirm your case.
 

Legal Support and Police Reporting

Now that you’ve understood the role of dashcam in car insurance claims, let’s explore how they aid legal support and police reporting

• Supporting FIR Filing and Investigations

Since dashboard footage is a clear, timestamped recording, police can review it to verify how the accident happened and who was involved. If the footage captures the face of the offending driver or the number plate of the car they were driving, the police can use it to file a stronger FIR and locate the offender faster.

Dashcam recordings can effortlessly remove ambiguity about who is responsible for the accident. It strengthens the complainant's case and makes the investigation move in the right direction.  

• Speeding up Legal Processes

Drivers can use dashcam footage as video evidence during claim settlement. If it matches the details listed in the FIR and the damage report, insurers and legal authorities have fewer reasons to question the claim. 

Clear dashcam footage can help drivers reduce disputes related to negligence, speeding up the settlement processes. It can also support legal proceedings if the case reaches a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal.
 

Conclusion

Dashcams have become a must-have for car owners, as they can help with evidence during claim settlement if their vehicle is damaged in a road accident by another vehicle. The footage recorded by this device can be used as undeniable proof of what happened during the accident.

Insurers can use it to determine who was at fault, thereby speeding up car insurance claim processing. In addition to installing a dashcam, you can also protect yourself and your car by investing in high-coverage Car Insurance.

You should explore the Shriram Car Insurance policy, as it provides greater coverage at reasonable premiums. You can also personalise this coverage by buying relevant add-on covers, such as roadside assistance or zero depreciation.
 

FAQs

1. How does dashcam footage help with car insurance claims?

Dashcam footage captures a raw recording of the accident. It helps insurers review how the accident occurred and who was at fault. It leads to faster claim approvals and payments.
 

2. Are insurance companies accepting dashcam videos as evidence?

Yes, many insurance companies now accept dashcam videos as evidence, as they are unbiased and timestamped.
 

3. Can dashcam footage prevent insurance fraud?

Yes, dashcam footage can help prevent insurance fraud. They do it by helping insurers determine whether a road accident was genuine or staged.
 

4. What scenarios benefit most from dashcam evidence?

Rear-end collisions, parking lot accidents, and hit-and-run cases are among the most common scenarios where car owners can benefit most from dashcam evidence.
 

5. How is dashcam footage used in police reports and legal claims?

Police can use dashcam footage to verify the details of the accident. It helps them file an accurate police report. Even courts and insurers can use it to confirm negligence and validate liability. It significantly speeds up claim approvals.