Filming your motorcycle ride is a great way to share the joy of riding a motorcycle with others or simply relive the ride yourself. That is why many Alabama motorcyclists make a habit of filming their rides with GoPro cameras on their helmets or motorcycles.
But did you know that you may be able to use GoPro footage in a motorcycle accident lawsuit? To learn how to use video evidence as you pursue compensation for a motorcycle accident, keep reading.
For help with your Alabama motorcycle accident claim, call Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. at (205) 933-1500 or fill out our online contact form.
How GoPro Footage Is Used in Motorcycle Accidents
While you might not have purchased your GoPro with the intention of using it to support a lawsuit, it is entirely possible to use GoPro footage as evidence in your motorcycle injury claim. Video recordings are a common type of evidence in personal injury lawsuits, and GoPro footage can provide a ground-level view of what happened during your motorcycle accident.
The at-fault driver’s lawyer may try to challenge your video evidence, but GoPro footage is and should be admissible in court. In fact, GoPro footage has been used in several motorcycle accident lawsuits across the country that resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts. One such verdict last year awarded $21.5 million to the victim.
The reason GoPro footage makes such strong evidence in motorcycle accident claims is that it can show irrefutable evidence of the at-fault driver being negligent. To win compensation, you will have to prove that the other party was negligent and that this negligence caused your accident and resulting injuries.
The following are some negligent actions that a GoPro could capture during a motorcycle accident:
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Speeding
- Erratic driving behavior
- Improper lane changes
A video that captures the driver who harmed you doing any of the above things right before your accident is some of the best evidence you can have.
Other Benefits of GoPros in Motorcycle Crashes
Using GoPro footage in motorcycle accidents can have benefits beyond showing that the other driver caused the accident. Here are some additional benefits a GoPro can provide to motorcyclists:
- Proof that you were not negligent. While you may know that the other driver was at fault for your motorcycle crash, they will likely try to point the blame back at you by claiming that you were somehow careless. Video evidence can easily clear you of blame for the crash.
- Protection from road rage. Road rage is extremely common and can become dangerous very quickly. Sometimes, seeing a helmet camera is enough to convince a rageful motorist to back down. And in the event that you are assaulted, your GoPro will catch the incident on camera.
- Clues in hit-and-run accidents. Unfortunately, some drivers who hit motorcyclists choose to leave the scene instead of facing responsibility for the harm they have caused. Many hit-and-run accidents go unsolved, but a GoPro camera might capture the driver’s license plate number or other identifying information about the car that hit you.
Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. Can Help After a Motorcycle Crash
Whether you have GoPro footage of your motorcycle accident or not, you deserve compensation for a motorcycle accident that was someone else’s fault. But injured motorcyclists often face shady insurance company tactics, unfair “reckless biker” stereotypes, and at-fault parties who are unwilling to accept responsibility for their actions.
Obstacles like those may seem impossible to overcome now, but an aggressive and experienced Alabama motorcycle accident attorney can help you push forward with your motorcycle accident claim and recover the compensation you are owed. To get started, call Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. at (205) 933-1500 as soon as possible.
