I’ve had a dashcam for 5 years now, and never once needed the footage for anything. It finally died the other day and I’ve been lazy to replace it. It got me thinking, when has DashCam footage ever helped the average OzBargainer?
When Has Dashcam Footage Saved You?
BangkokBreakfast on 02/04/2018 - 21:09
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By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail - Benjamin Franklin
It’s like insurance, never having to use it doesn’t mean you don’t need it.
When you have a dashcam, you probably won't need it. It's when you don't have it that you'll probably need it.
Lady rear ended me and did a runner. When I chased her down she was apologetic and admitted fault, but later submitted a claim saying I reversed into her. Thankfully my front and rear footage saved my ass that day.
Second time was a police officer claiming I was speeding. I was able to use my dashcam footage as proof that I was in a 60 zone and not a 50 zone as he claimed.
I bought this dashcam for $70 and 1 year later it saved me an excess of $1450 and extra stress having to explain to my insurance company.
Straight away I put in a claim and send them the dashcam footage, I did not have to draw diagrams and write a collision report or witnesses.
After this accident, I went in and got one for rear window too.
you were going straight and they were turning right?
Yes i was going straight
His intentions not clear as he didnt indicate.
He had the give way lines so his intentions were irrelevant anyway :)
It’s like a motorbike helmet. You wear it for years but realistically you only need it once.
Had a guy merge into me, and argue that i was trying to get into his lane, not the other way around. Pointed out the dashcam, but the guy still told his insurer that I changed into him.
In the end, my insurer didnt ask for the footage, but Compass Claims did (they called the other party and his insurer, and wanted proof that he was at fault from me because they weren't accepting fault).
A $500 camera saved me $2200.
Any reccimendations for a cheapish but good one? Interested in front and rear
Dual setups are usually over $400. The alternative is to use two single units. The Viofo A119S is the ozbargainer's dashcam of choice.
Viofo a129 duo. Around $230
A dash cam saved me from a long stretch in jail.
I needed to account for my whereabouts and the only alibi I had was a three year old.Until I remembered the dash cam about five hours into the police interview.
Best money I've ever spent - the police never gave the dash cam back though.
Sounds interesting - Willing to share the rest of your story?
As far as I know it's still an ongoing investigation so that may not be wise.
that's probably why the dash cam isn't back yet.
However I'd happily trade a dashcam for jail days any day anyways.
One normally does not have to prove one's innocence.
You havent run into the Victorian Police then
For me it changed the insurance company's stance from "We will need to determine fault" to "What a (profanity).. no way you're at fault" in one easy step (road rager tried to overtake me on the shoulder and failed miserably). Also got my claim with Right2Drive approved instantly. I'm not even sure the other guy had insurance.. he would have received some decent bills.
can you share the footage?
Unfortunately the guy lives close to me and the footage identifies his business very clearly. So as much as i'd like to, i'd rather not start anything.
but he blame on you and not admitting fault.
And now you sending him a decent bills, did he end up walk up to your door?
I take the view that a dash cam is far cheaper than an at-fault insurance excess.
I first bought a dash cam because my parents were t-boned when another car driver ran a red light. Despite there being a number of witnesses saying otherwise, he swore black and blue that he had right of way - up until when it was scheduled for court.
I was in a not-at-fault accident in a school zone at the morning drop off. Much to my surprise no one came forward and offered to be a witness. The other party admitted fault so it was non-contentious but if they had sought to allege I was speeding, failed to give way, etc it would have been my word against theirs and my dashcam would have been worth its weight in gold.
This reminds me to decide on a dash cam to buy. A119 / A119S / A199 Pro / Something else?
After my run in on the weekend with an idiotic road rager behind me, better make it two. One for the front and one for the back.
I was going to take my footage to the police until I realised that there was no actual footage on the front desk can of what he was doing other than me yelling WTF over and over…
Police accuse me of speeding in a 60 zone because I was driving a “performance car”.
Said they saw me speeding using the reflection of the shop windows lol
Clearly was trying too hard to get me to admit speeding (I’m doing 45-50k so I know I was well under) until the partner starts checking the car and see the dashcam.
Said all good and have a nice night lol
After accusing me of speeding only to walk away because DASHCAM+1 to the list of owning one but never having had to use it. I have been in one 'not at fault' accident, which was before owning the Dash Cam. The other driver admitted fault and swiftly organised their insurance claim; given the circumstances of the collision, I may have still been in the clear sans-dash cam if they tried to claim I was at fault (since it wasn't a front to rear collision) but that process would've been a large hassle, at best, if not a large financial burden.
Here's one example of when it can come in handy. Warning: foul language.