Dashcams have become common on Cornwall's roads, from commuters using the A30 daily to visitors navigating narrow lanes for the first time. When a collision happens, dashcam footage can be genuinely useful evidence, but only if it is saved and handled correctly before it gets overwritten or lost.
This guide covers the practical side of dashcam footage after an accident: how to protect it, what insurers and police generally expect, and a few privacy points worth knowing. It is general guidance rather than legal advice, and the exact rules can depend on your insurer's process and the circumstances of the collision.
Why footage gets lost if you don't act quickly
Most dashcams record on a continuous loop, overwriting the oldest footage once the memory card fills up. Depending on the card size and recording quality, this can happen within hours or a few days of normal driving, so footage of a collision can be overwritten before you get round to saving it.
Many dashcams have a G-sensor that automatically locks footage of a hard impact into a protected folder, but this does not always trigger for lower-speed bumps or side impacts, so it is worth checking manually as well rather than assuming it has been saved automatically.
Saving the footage as soon as possible
As soon as it is safe to do so, either at the scene or shortly afterwards, check the dashcam and manually lock or save the relevant clip if your device allows it. If not, remove the memory card or copy the file to a phone or laptop as a backup.
Note the approximate time of the collision so you can find the right clip quickly, especially if the dashcam has been running for hours and the file names are just timestamps.
- Lock the file using the dashcam's emergency or protect button if it has one
- Copy the footage to your phone or a laptop as a backup
- Note the approximate time of the incident to locate the clip
- Do not keep driving on the same card for hours before backing it up
- Check both front and rear cameras if your dashcam has both
What insurers and police typically want
Insurers generally want the original video file, ideally with the embedded timestamp and, where available, GPS or speed data intact, rather than a photo or video of the screen showing the footage playing. This helps establish the sequence of events and can speed up a liability decision.
The police, where they are involved, may also ask for a copy as part of an investigation, particularly if there is a dispute about what happened or a driver has failed to stop. It is usually best to keep the original file safe and provide a copy rather than the only version you have.
- The original video file rather than a screen recording or photo of the screen
- Correct timestamp visible in the footage where possible
- Any GPS, speed or G-sensor data the device records
- A short written account of what happened alongside the clip
File formats and how to share footage
Dashcam footage is usually saved as an MP4 or similar video file, which most insurers can accept by email, upload portal or a link to cloud storage if the file is too large to attach. Compressing the file too aggressively can reduce clarity, so avoid re-exporting it repeatedly through different apps if you can help it.
If you are asked to send footage to more than one party, such as your own insurer and the other driver's insurer, keep a copy for yourself in case it is needed again later in the claims process.
- Keep at least one unedited copy of the original file
- Use a cloud link or file transfer service for large files rather than heavy compression
- Label the file clearly with the date and a brief description
- Send footage promptly, as some claims processes have time limits
Privacy considerations
Dashcam footage can capture other people's vehicles, faces and number plates, which raises general data protection points if footage is shared publicly, for example on social media. Sharing footage privately with your insurer or the police for the purpose of a claim or investigation is generally accepted practice, but wider sharing is worth thinking about first.
If you are asked to hand over footage that also shows unrelated journeys, it is reasonable to check with the party requesting it whether they only need the relevant clip rather than your whole memory card.
What if you don't have dashcam footage
Not having a dashcam does not put you at a disadvantage in most cases; witness statements, photographs from the scene, and the position and pattern of damage are all still used to assess what happened. If another vehicle involved had a dashcam, their insurer or the police may be able to obtain it.
If you are considering fitting one, a forward-facing dashcam with a G-sensor and a reasonably large memory card is a sensible starting point for everyday driving around Cornwall's mix of fast roads and narrow lanes.
Need this sorted today?
Whatever the cause, if your vehicle needs recovering after a collision, call Broadside Recovery on 07874 130193 for prompt help across Cornwall.
Frequently asked questions
Will my dashcam footage automatically save itself?
Many dashcams have a G-sensor that locks footage after a hard impact, but this does not always trigger in a lower-speed collision, so it is worth checking manually and backing up the clip yourself as soon as possible.
Do I have to give my dashcam footage to the other driver?
You are not generally obliged to hand footage directly to the other driver, but insurers usually expect it to be shared through the claims process, either via your own insurer or, if requested, the police.
Can dashcam footage prove who was at fault?
It can be strong evidence, but insurers and, where relevant, the police usually consider it alongside other evidence such as witness accounts and vehicle damage rather than as the sole deciding factor.
What if my dashcam footage doesn't clearly show the accident?
Partial or unclear footage can still be useful alongside other evidence, so it is usually worth submitting it anyway rather than assuming it is not helpful.
Is it legal to use a dashcam in the UK?
Yes, dashcams are legal and commonly used in the UK, though general data protection principles apply if footage identifying other people is shared publicly rather than used privately for insurance or police purposes.
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