Helmet Cameras Could Help Your Motorcycle Accident Case
Although a fun and cost effective way to get around, riding motorcycles is inherently dangerous due to the rider’s unprotected status and general lack of visibility. There are, however, ways to make this activity safer, including wearing a helmet. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that wearing a helmet lowers the risk of motorcyclist head injury by almost 70 percent and the risk of fatal injury by 37 percent. In addition to wearing a helmet, many motorcycle riders are also now choosing to wear a camera on their helmets to help support their claim in the event of a collision.
The Benefits of Motorcycle Helmet Cameras
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), there were 9,529 motorcycle accidents in the state in 2023 alone. Because riding motorcycles has become so dangerous in the sunshine state, many riders have begun wearing cameras on their helmets. Doing so has a number of benefits, as it:
- Provides objective evidence in the form of video footage of any accidents that may happen;
- Captures the whole scene, as many cameras have wide angles (sometimes up to 170 degrees), making it much easier to recreate an entire accident scene;
- Ensures the availability of evidence on a long-term basis, as the videos can be stored for as long as they are needed;
- Shows the intensity and severity of the accident, lending credibility to the rider’s claim; and
- Provides footage that is admissible in court as evidence.
The footage that helmet cameras capture can provide strong evidence of the cause of and circumstances surrounding a motorcycle accident. The footage cannot be tampered with, can be saved indefinitely, and is objective and unbiased. For these reasons, helmet camera footage can end up being the strongest piece of evidence in a personal injury case. However, the strength of these recordings will largely depend on the quality of the camera.
Tips for Choosing a Helmet Camera
Motorcyclists who are in the market for a helmet camera will need to take a few things into consideration when actually choosing a product, including:
- Battery life, ensuring that the camera can record for at least two hours on one charge;
- Storage capacity, with devices with higher storage capacity generally preferred;
- Field of view, aiming for a wider field of vision (between 120 and 170 degrees); and
- Image quality, with a focus on high-quality resolution and night vision capabilities.
By looking at these four elements, motorcyclists will give themselves a better chance of purchasing a camera that will provide them with the strongest possible evidence in the event of an accident.
Set Up a Consultation with Our Legal Team Today
Video footage from motorcycle helmets can end up being an excellent form of legal protection in the event of a motorcycle accident. To learn more about the kinds of evidence you can use to build a strong personal injury case following a crash, please contact Anderson & Anderson and set up a meeting with one of our dedicated Tampa motorcycle accidents lawyers today. You can reach us by calling our office at 813-251-0072 or by completing one of our online contact forms.
Sources:
archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/policy/hi5/motorcycleinjury/index.html
flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/crash-dashboard/
