Accident Claim Lawyers
EvidenceUpdated September 2026

Dashcam footage after a crash

In plain English: dashcam footage is video recorded by a camera mounted in a vehicle. After a crash, it can show exactly what happened in a way no witness can.

Save it before it disappears

Most dashcams record on a loop and overwrite old footage when the card fills up. Many save a locked clip automatically when they sense an impact, but not all do, and a light bump may not trigger it.

  1. Press the save or lock button as soon as it's safe.
  2. Remove the memory card, or stop the camera recording, the same day.
  3. Copy the original file to a computer and a cloud backup without editing it.
  4. Keep the card itself somewhere safe.
  5. Note the camera model and whether its date and time are set correctly.

The original file matters. Its metadata can confirm when it was recorded and that it hasn't been changed. A phone recording of the dashcam screen is far weaker.

Other people's cameras

Other drivers, buses, taxis and delivery vans often carry cameras. If you spot one, note the registration or licence plate, company name and time. Ask witnesses at the scene if they were recording. Businesses and transport companies usually delete footage within days or weeks, so a lawyer may need to send a preservation letter quickly.

Who to share it with

  • Your insurer. Most insurers welcome footage, and in the UK it's now routine.
  • The police, if an offence may have been committed. Many UK police forces have online portals for dashcam submissions.
  • Your lawyer, who will decide when and how to disclose it.

Don't post it on social media. It can compromise a police investigation, raise privacy issues, and hand the other side something to pick apart.

When footage cuts both ways

Video shows everything, including your speed, your following distance and whether you were looking at your phone. Some cameras record GPS speed on screen. If the footage shows you were partly at fault, it can reduce your claim under comparative negligence rules, though it rarely wipes it out. Talk to a lawyer before handing it over if you're unsure.

Audio recording

Some US states require everyone in a conversation to consent to audio recording. If your camera records sound inside the car, check your state's rules before relying on audio of passengers or the other driver.

Next: photographic evidence · chain of custody · car accident claim workbook.

Related terms

Incident ReportAn incident report is a written record a business, employer, landlord or venue makes when someone is hurt on their premises.Medical RecordsMedical records are every note, test result, scan report, prescription and letter your doctors, hospitals and therapists have made about you.Photographic EvidencePhotographic evidence means the photos that show what happened and what it did to you: the scene, the vehicles or hazard, and your injuries.Police ReportA police report (also called a collision report, accident report or crash report) is the officer's written record of a crash: who was involved, where and when it happened, vehicle damage, injuries, witness details and sometimes the officer's view of what caused it.

General information, not legal or medical advice. Rules differ between US states, the UK and Canadian provinces, so check the law where your accident happened. How we write and check · Legal disclaimer