Can a Dash Cam Capture If My Car Gets Hit?
2 Answers
It depends on the type of dash cam. For single-lens dash cams, they can record frontal collisions. Dual-lens dash cams can capture both front and rear impacts. If equipped with a 360-degree panoramic dash cam, it can document scratches or collisions from all sides (front, rear, left, and right). Dash cams serve two primary purposes: 1. Accident Reconstruction: They provide evidentiary footage of collisions, reckless overtaking leading to rear-ends, or pedestrian accidents, allowing playback via in-car DVD systems or mobile devices. 2. Security Surveillance: Continuously monitoring the vehicle, dash cams integrate with remote network controls to capture interior/exterior footage upon command during theft incidents, aiding in vehicle recovery.
If your car gets hit, the dash cam usually captures some footage, but it depends on the situation. Last time when I was waiting at a red light, I got rear-ended, and the dash cam recorded the whole process of the other car speeding towards me, which helped prove their full liability. If the collision is on the side or rear, the footage might be limited since most dash cams only cover the front view, unless you have a multi-camera system installed. If your parked car gets hit, it depends on whether parking mode is activated—many dash cams go into sleep mode, but if the collision wake-up function is enabled, it will automatically start recording. It’s a good idea to regularly check your device to ensure the memory card has space and the power supply is stable, avoiding failure at critical moments. After a collision, don’t turn off the dash cam—export the footage directly as evidence.
