Jason Stephens | August 20, 2022 | Motorcycle Accidents
It is hard to go anywhere in public these days and not be on camera. Video cameras capture your movements in banks and retail stores. They might snap your photograph if you try to run a red light. If you have a run-in with the police, you will appear on the officer’s body-worn camera or vehicle dash camera.
One place where you are not likely to find many cameras, though, is on the road. Despite their numerous benefits, motorists generally have not yet embraced the trend of having a video camera in their car that records what they encounter on the road.
Motorcyclists are accustomed to donning protective gear before they take to the road. Perhaps it is time that they add a helmet-mounted camera to their list of protective equipment.
Benefits for Texas Motorcyclists Who Have a Helmet Camera
The cause of motorcycle wrecks may occur in fractions of seconds. There is simply no way for any person to see all of the actions others take behind the wheel in the moments leading up to a crash. Even if they could, many individuals cannot recall and effectively articulate all of these facts to the police and courts.
A helmet-worn camera that records what the motorcyclist sees has several advantages:
- It can capture the actions of several vehicles at once
- The footage it captures is unbiased and objective evidence
- With proper preservation, the video will be available months or years later
- The events captured on video will not change over time
In short, having a helmet camera gives you an extra “witness” to any crash in which you may be involved. The memory of this witness will be crisp and clear even if your memory — or that of the other driver — becomes fuzzy with time.
And because a camera has no bias or motive to lie, it is hard to argue that the events it records did not happen.
Video Footage Is Admissible in Court
Helmet camera footage doesn’t just help police unravel the series of events that led to a crash. Texas’s evidence rules permit courts to admit and consider video footage when determining whether you are entitled to recover compensation from another driver after a collision.
Video footage is generally admissible in motorcycle crash lawsuits, provided the footage is both relevant and reliable. Because a helmet camera would give the judge and jury a first-person view of exactly what you saw while riding your motorcycle, helmet camera footage would be extremely relevant to your motorcycle injury case.
Relevance also requires that the video footage be clear and visible. Camera footage that is hazy, grainy, or not visible due to poor lighting will be of little relevance. Therefore, you ought to invest in a quality camera system designed to record in various lighting environments, if possible.
Video cameras are inherently more reliable than an eyewitness’s testimony. The reliability of footage increases when it is shown that the camera was from a reputable manufacturer, that you knew how to operate it, and that the camera was working properly on the date of the crash.
Additionally, the ability of you or another person to alter, delete, or edit recorded footage will impact the reliability of that footage. If it is shown that you or someone else can modify or delete recorded footage, then the reliability of your video may be negatively impacted.
Choosing the Right Helmet Camera for You
There are a variety of camera systems available, including those that mount to a rider’s helmet and those that you attach to the motorcycle itself. You may also choose a mobile camera system, such as a GoPro.
A durable, weatherproof camera system that records several hours of easily downloadable footage should provide you with the functionality you need.
A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help You After Your Crash
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, you could be entitled to substantial compensation. The at-fault driver may owe you money for your medical bills and other damages.
Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your rights and options.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Law Firm in Fort Worth, TX
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth motorcycle accident lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.
Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000