Auto Insurance Experts: Dashcams

[msommers]

Given the current state of how auto claims are handled in AB, is it necessary or worthwhile to have a dashcam?

I certainly do, makes no sense to me to not have one. My family is adamant that there is no point and it's wasting money because of how insurance handles claims now.

From an insurance perspective, is there value to having footage? Does it affect your premiums if you get into an accident that is proven to not be at-fault, or does being at-fault or not matter anymore?

[dj_rice]

To me yes. The shit I capture daily in Edmonton boggles my mind.

2 lane roads are still 2 lanes even when snow covered.

[D'z Nutz]

What is the current state of how auto claims are handled in AB?

Regardless, I don't see why it wouldn't be. I never hurts to have additional data should you ever need it.

[killramos]

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What is the current state of how auto claims are handled in AB?

https://youtu.be/nNQ3g6VDyfg?feature=shared

Colorized video above

[eblend]

I don't know how it works, never had this issue, but my dad recently got into an accident (his fault) and he got a traffic ticket on top of it. If nothing else, the dashcam can at least give you some evidence with the police. Don't know how it works otherwise, but you can get a cheap cam for under $100....such small price to pay for some extra security and knowing you have evidence of basically most things on the road. I have em in both of my cars.

[ExtraSlow]

Since your question is about insurance, how could it help lower your insurance?

[Masked Bandit]

Dashcams don't currently impact your premiums per se, there are no "discounts" in the traditional sense. Where they hold value is providing an impartial account of events which will often get you out of a 50/50 decision like a sideswipe. There are a lot of people that get handed a 50/50 decision simply because there's no way to prove who was in the wrong, occupants of your vehicle don't count as witnesses. A 50/50 does the same thing to your record as a full blown 100% at-fault so keeping that off your record can be huge.

[Xtrema]

In the 13 years that I had a dashcam, I only caught 1 footage that's worthy of going viral and 1 that helped someone else.

Other than that, I think it's something you regret not having after an accident.

[SJW]

I sent my dash cam footage to the insurance company. They appreciated it. That's the only experience I have with it.

[msommers]

If involved in an accident that isn't your fault, and clearly not your fault, my understanding is that there is some DCPD deductible you pay (or maybe it's $0 in this scenario idk) and your own insurance company gets the repairs sorted and then goes after the at-fault person's insurance. It doesn't affect your premiums. But the premiums of the at-fault person's insurance do get adjusted if they don't have accident forgiveness.

My coworker actually had someone back into him at a light and then the guy went to the police saying my coworker rear-ended him. Surprised this douche didn't get charged with filing a fake police report but he came back and changed his statement when called out on it. Dash cam seemed pretty worthwhile then!

[D'z Nutz]

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Where they hold value is providing an impartial account of events which will often get you out of a 50/50 decision like a sideswipe. There are a lot of people that get handed a 50/50 decision simply because there's no way to prove who was in the wrong, occupants of your vehicle don't count as witnesses. A 50/50 does the same thing to your record as a full blown 100% at-fault so keeping that off your record can be huge.

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My coworker actually had someone back into him at a light and then the guy went to the police saying my coworker rear-ended him. Surprised this douche didn't get charged with filing a fake police report but he came back and changed his statement when called out on it. Dash cam seemed pretty worthwhile then!

See, these are big reasons why I see value in having a dash cam.

1) If you're in a 50/50 situation, having additional footage can tip the balance of at-fault one way or the other, and

2) Just the possibility of having footage could keep the other party honest if they were going to do something fraudulent. See Little Dragon's incident, for example.

I also see value in potentially having footage for other peoples' situations from a different angle, being a witness to a crime, and of course, the LOLZ.

[Xtrema]

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My coworker actually had someone back into him at a light and then the guy went to the police saying my coworker rear-ended him. Surprised this douche didn't get charged with filing a fake police report but he came back and changed his statement when called out on it. Dash cam seemed pretty worthwhile then!

That's basically it.

Remember back like 15 or 20 years where there were a bunch of scammers faking being run over and blackmail you in the Core parking or something. I think that was before dashcam was a thing tho.

[rage2]

My son was rear ended stopped at a crosswalk and got pushed into the car in front. Without the footage he would’ve been at fault for hitting car ahead. That would’ve been a massive insurance hike for next year.

[tirebob]

My dash cam saved a guy I was behind who got smoked by a chick who was pissed drunk and cut into him, and turns out over two years later it was used by the crown to prosecute her. I have had no need of it for personal issues though.

[tonytiger55]

Yes. It is also peace of mind. It is also about what happens after an accident. Not all people are nice. They can be pretty ruthless.

There may be scenarios where a car may side swipe you into your lane. How will you prove it? It happened to a friend last year on his Golf R.

On other occasions I went to pick up a friend. I ended up waiting at the wrong location. A lady came out of her house and started to threaten me, abusive racist language etc. Then threated to call the police, as I moved away she chased me with her car. That one time I needed my cheap ass dashcam to work...it did not. Hence I upgraded last summer.

I was rear ended three years ago. The other driver was playing games in a polite way and did not want to go through his insurance. His attitude completely changed when he realized I had a rear dash cam.

Over the summer I witnessed a car slam into the side of another coming out of a gas station in the distance. My dashcam caught it. The police and victim asked for separate copies for their own records.

I have had multiple near misses on Deerfoot with overly aggressive drivers. On other occasions some drivers have almost reversed into me when and it would have looked like I rear ended them.
I have caught deer and goats running out in front of me. I have missed. But cool footage.

[Kloubek]

Insurance issues aside, it is great security. If someone ever tries to scam you by claiming you caused an accident when really, THEY did, it's the difference between paying dearly for someone else's mistake, or teaching them a lesson. It can be useful to verify or deny work done at a shop. And frankly, I've gotten a kick out of going over footage of accidents and close calls I've had caused by others.

[msommers]

So in short, it can help decide 50/50 collisions as expected. But if not at fault, regardless if you have footage or not, you'll have to pay a deductible to your insurance company to repair it? But won't be subject to premium increases.

Does that sound right?

[rage2]

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So in short, it can help decide 50/50 collisions as expected. But if not at fault, regardless if you have footage or not, you'll have to pay a deductible to your insurance company to repair it? But won't be subject to premium increases.

Does that sound right?

You don’t pay deductible if not at fault.

[SportEL]

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My son was rear ended stopped at a crosswalk and got pushed into the car in front. Without the footage he would’ve been at fault for hitting car ahead. That would’ve been a massive insurance hike for next year.

Not exactly. It all depends if the person in the Front Vehicle felt one or two impacts in a rear-end chain. If they felt two, that would mean the middle car rear-ended the vehicle in front first (1st impact), then the middle vehicle was also pushed into the vehicle in front by the rear vehicle (the 2nd impact). That would mean the middle vehicle would be at fault as they rear-ended the vehicle in front first. If instead, the front vehicle only felt one impact, that would mean the middle was pushed by the vehicle in the rear. The middle vehicle would be not at fault.

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So in short, it can help decide 50/50 collisions as expected. But if not at fault, regardless if you have footage or not, you'll have to pay a deductible to your insurance company to repair it? But won't be subject to premium increases.

Does that sound right?

Yes, dashcams or independent witnesses can help to determine fault. If determined not at fault, you don't pay a deductible. If 50/50 fault, you pay half your deductible. So if you have a $500 deductible, you would pay $250.

Also, If you're at fault or partially at fault, your insurer will likely raise your rates upon renewal.

[rage2]

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Not exactly. It all depends if the person in the Front Vehicle felt one or two impacts in a rear-end chain. If they felt two, that would mean the middle car rear-ended the vehicle in front first (1st impact), then the middle vehicle was also pushed into the vehicle in front by the rear vehicle (the 2nd impact). That would mean the middle vehicle would be at fault as they rear-ended the vehicle in front first. If instead, the front vehicle only felt one impact, that would mean the middle was pushed by the vehicle in the rear. The middle vehicle would be not at fault.

Thanks there CSI. This rarely happens in practice. Adjusters take the easy path and just deem fault one after another in a multi crash situation all the time regardless of witness statements.