How Crash Reports and Dashcam Video Shape a Car Accident Claim
@beaulaqv137
November 6, 2026 · 3 min read
Evidence from a car crash starts to disappear within hours. Cars are towed and repaired, video is overwritten and witnesses become hard to reach. A car accident lawyer typically starts with the police report, photos, video and the data stored in the vehicles. This article explains how each source fits into a claim.
What the police report contains
When officers respond to a crash, they usually prepare a crash report, sometimes called a police report. It typically lists the drivers and vehicles involved, with insurance details for each, and it often includes a diagram, a short narrative and any citations. In many states, drivers must also report crashes involving injury, death or property damage above a set dollar amount. Copies are usually available from the agency that responded, whether that is a city police department, a sheriff's office or the state highway patrol, sometimes for a fee.
A crash report is influential in insurance claims, but it is not the final word on fault. Rules on using an officer's opinions at trial vary by state. When a report has a factual error, such as a wrong plate number, the agency may accept a request to correct or supplement it. A car crash attorney will compare the report with the photos and statements.
Photos and dashcam footage
Dashcam footage can capture the seconds before a crash more clearly than any witness. Keep the original file with its timestamp, instead of a phone recording of the screen, and make a backup copy. Nearby businesses, buses and traffic cameras may have recorded the crash too, but many systems overwrite footage within days or weeks. Scene photos can show where the vehicles stopped and the debris and skid marks around them, and photos of injuries taken over several weeks can show how they changed.
The car's own black box
Many cars and light trucks carry an event data recorder (EDR). NHTSA describes an EDR as a device that records technical vehicle and occupant information for a brief period, measured in seconds, not minutes, surrounding a crash. Depending on the vehicle, the data may include speed and brake application as well as seat belt use. NHTSA's rule in 49 CFR Part 563 sets requirements for EDRs in light vehicles that have them. Under the Driver Privacy Act of 2015, https://gunnerkkuw299.publishlane.com/posts/who-is-liable-in-a-car-accident EDR data generally belongs to the vehicle owner or lessee, and others may access it only in limited situations, such as with the owner's consent or a court order.
EDR data can be lost when a car is repaired or sold for salvage. Total loss vehicles are often moved to salvage auctions within weeks, so a motor vehicle accident lawyer may send a preservation letter asking that the vehicle be held until the data can be downloaded.
Witnesses and medical records
Witnesses with no stake in the claim often carry weight. Their names and phone numbers should be collected at the scene if it is safe to do so. Medical records link the injuries to the crash, and gaps in treatment are often used by insurers to dispute a claim. A simple file with the claim number and a log of every call with the adjuster makes later questions easier to answer. A short journal of pain levels and missed work, written while the details are fresh, can also help. This article is general information, not legal advice, and it does not predict the result of any claim.