dash cam footage

Key Takeaways

• Footage from the day of the incident must be preserved promptly. Most continuous-loop systems overwrite recordings within 24 to 72 hours unless a trigger flagged the clip.
• The original file carries more evidentiary weight than a copy. A copy made without a documented chain of custody creates questions about whether the file was modified.
• What a recording shows depends on camera angle, resolution, and lighting. A clip that doesn't clearly show a plate number can still establish scene context and event sequence.

Plain-English meaning

Dash cam footage is video recorded by a camera system installed in a commercial vehicle, typically covering the road ahead through a windshield-mounted camera and, in dual-facing systems, the cab interior. Recording may be continuous-loop or event-triggered, stored locally or transmitted to a cloud platform.

An event-triggered clip typically includes 5 to 30 seconds before and after the trigger. Continuous-loop footage captures everything until storage fills and older footage is overwritten.

Preservation and evidence handling

Dash cam footage is treated as physical evidence in claims and litigation. Original files should be preserved intact before any copies are made or shared. The preservation step — locking the clip, pulling the SD card, or triggering a cloud backup — should be initiated the same day as the incident.

Route all requests for footage from outside the company through the company's safety or legal contact. Do not share or describe footage contents to outside parties without authorization.