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 actually happened, in a way memory and description cannot. If you have any of this, the first job is to save it safely today, before a looping dashcam or a full phone gallery quietly overwrites it.
Why this evidence carries so much weight
A clear clip of the moment of impact removes most of the guesswork a police report or a witness account still leaves. It shows speed, direction, signals, and who moved into whose path, without relying on anyone’s memory of a stressful few seconds.
This does not replace your police report, but it gives it something solid to stand on, and it can matter just as much when the other side’s account does not match what actually happened.
Save it before it disappears
Most dashcams record in a loop, overwriting older files once the memory card is full, sometimes within a single day of driving. If your dashcam has an accident it, use it as soon as you can; otherwise, copy the file to your phone or a laptop the same day.
- Copy the raw video file, not a re-filmed screen recording.
- Note the date, time and route on the file name so it is not lost among others.
- Back it up in at least 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 their system loops over it too.
What to photograph if you do not have video
Even without a dashcam, your phone can still capture strong evidence right after the accident.
- Both vehicles from a few angles, showing the damage and their final positions.
- The road itself, including any skid marks, debris or road markings.
- Number plates, road signs and traffic signals nearby.
- Any visible injuries, taken respectfully and only if you feel able to.
Handing it over without weakening it
Send the original file whenever possible rather than a copy compressed through a messaging app, since quality loss can make details harder to see later. Keep a copy for yourself too, separate from whatever you share.
Where this fits into the bigger picture
Photo and video evidence sits alongside witness accounts and the wider accident scene evidence you gather early on. Together with your medical report, this is what turns a description of an accident into a claim that stands on real evidence, covered fully in the claim process.
Common questions
Does dashcam footage prove who was at fault?
It is strong evidence, but liability is still decided on the whole picture, including the police report and any witnesses. Clear footage of the moment of impact is often the single most persuasive piece a claim can have.
My dashcam only has a short loop. Is my footage already gone?
Possibly, since most dashcams overwrite old footage automatically once the memory card fills. Lock or copy the file the same day if you can, 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 before they too lose the clip to their own loop recording.
Is a phone video as good as a proper dashcam?
For after-the-fact footage of the scene, yes, a phone works well. It cannot recreate footage of the impact itself if you were not already recording, which is the one thing a dashcam captures 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 straight off the memory card.