How a dashcam could help with your insurance claim
Have you ever been in a collision where the other motorist has blamed you? Your insurers exchange words, but they’re having trouble coming to an agreement.
The already upsetting situation has the potential to become even more frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. In the modern world, the process of finding out who’s at fault can be made a bit smoother with the help of a dashcam.
Dashcams have increased in popularity among Australian drivers. According to the Insurance Council of Australia, 7% of drivers have a dashcam and, of those who don’t, 13% say they intend on having one installed within the next year. In 2013 when the technology was still new, RAA received just 5 claims accompanied by dashcam footage.
RAA Insurance Claims Manager, Hayley Cain, said the number of claims being made with dashcam footage had increased significantly over the past 6 years.
“This technology may be a benefit to our members and helps us streamline our claims process,” Ms Cain said.
“The dashcam recordings may help us decide who’s at fault in a car crash, particularly if the motorists are disputing [this].
“If the footage shows the other party was at fault and caused the crash, then an excess wouldn’t apply to our client.”
Dashcams have a number of other potential benefits. They could even improve behaviour on our roads, as dangerous drivers become increasingly aware they’re being recorded.
The cameras can also capture road rage, crime and even potential fraud. In fact, earlier this year, a dashcam caught a teenage boy at Marion pretending to be hit by a stationary car. The performance saw the boy clutch his chest as if wounded before rolling across the front of a car and falling to the ground. The boy’s friends approached and accused the driver of hitting the pedestrian.
Dashcams can capture road rage, crime and even potential fraud.