Saving your dashcam and photo evidence
You have footage or photos from the crash and are not sure what to do with them.
Dashcam footage, phone photos and video clips show what happened in a way memory cannot. If you have any, save it safely today, before a looping dashcam or a full phone gallery overwrites it.
Why does this evidence carry so much weight?
A clear clip of the impact removes most of the guesswork left by a police report or a witness account. It shows speed, direction, signals, and who moved into whose path.
It does not replace your police report, but it gives the report something solid to stand on. It matters most when the other side’s account does not match what happened.
How do you save it before it disappears?
Most dashcams record in a loop, overwriting older files once the card is full, sometimes within a day of driving. If your dashcam has an event-lock button, press it. Otherwise copy the file to your phone or a laptop the same day.
- Copy the raw video file, not a re-filmed screen recording.
- Put the date, time and route in the file name.
- Back it up in two places, such as cloud storage and a computer.
- If the footage is on someone else’s dashcam or a shop’s CCTV, ask for a copy before it loops over.
What should you photograph if you have no video?
Your phone can still capture strong evidence right after the accident.
- Both vehicles from a few angles, showing the damage and final positions.
- The road, including skid marks, debris or road markings.
- Number plates, road signs and traffic signals nearby.
- Any visible injuries, only if you feel able to.
How do you hand it over without weakening it?
Keep the original file and a separate backup. When an identified independent lawyer contacts you and specifically requests the footage, provide the original directly to that lawyer rather than a copy compressed through a messaging app, since lost quality can hide details.
How does it fit the wider claim?
Photo and video evidence sits beside witness accounts and accident scene evidence. With your medical report, it turns a description into a claim backed by evidence. The claim process covers the full path.
If the other side disputes what your footage shows, an independent lawyer can take the claim on and put it to the insurer. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no), and the police report status.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
Does dashcam footage prove who was at fault?
It is strong evidence, but fault is decided on the whole picture, including the police report and witnesses. Clear footage of the moment of impact is often the most persuasive piece a claim can have.
My dashcam only has a short loop. Is my footage already gone?
Possibly. Most dashcams overwrite old footage once the memory card fills. Lock or copy the file the same day, because waiting even a day or two is often too late.
Can I use someone else's dashcam footage as evidence?
Yes, if the other driver, a passenger, or a nearby shop with a dashcam or CCTV is willing to share it. Ask soon, before they lose the clip to their own loop recording.
Is a phone video as good as a proper dashcam?
For footage of the scene afterwards, yes. A phone cannot capture the impact itself if you were not already recording, which a dashcam does automatically.
Should I edit or trim the footage before sending it?
No. Keep the original file exactly as recorded. An edited or re-filmed clip is harder to rely on than the raw file from the memory card.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.