Dash cameras are quickly becoming a popular add on to vehicles. You may even have one in your own car.
These cameras can capture everything that occurs as you drive, which can be a huge benefit if you find yourself in an accident. How Stuff Works explains that insurance companies find these cameras to be quite helpful when proving fault in a crash.
Evidence
Most of the time, the camera footage is the best retelling of the events. Eyewitnesses and your account of the incident may not be clear. The camera, though, captures the truth without bias or memory issues clouding the record.
The footage can serve as excellent evidence in court to show you are not at fault. Even if you are at fault, it can also allow you to show any responsibility on the part of the other party or show the situation in a light that could benefit you. For example, if something happened that was unavoidable and it led to an accident, you may not be as at fault as it would seem.
Insurers
Insurers really like cameras because they help to reduce fraud. It is difficult to dispute recorded footage of the incident. With the reduction in fraud and easier path to discovering fault, dash cams could potentially help to reduce insurance rates for every driver.
Other uses
Beyond just helping you with accidents, dash cameras can also allow you to monitor other drivers, such as an employee or a teen. It can serve as a security system, catching someone trying to steal your car or break into it. It may also be useful in fighting a traffic ticket case.