It’s time. Install a dash cam.
When dash cams were first introduced, like many new technologies they had issues. They could be expensive, large, difficult to install, clunky, and produce grainy footage. But the devices have grown through their awkward adolescent years and are now ready to take their seat next to your drivers, protecting your investment in your business.
Owners know that whenever a driver is dispatched, each one carries (figuratively) the assets of the business on their route, around town, and wherever the vehicle is steered. Because, should that driver be responsible for an accident, the business is liable for damages. That is why business owners carry insurance. However, dash cams are now one of the most inexpensive and effective “insurance policies” available, protecting your business from high premiums.
Below are a few of the best reasons to consider them:
An Objective Observer: Ever heard the cliché, “The least reliable witness is an eye witness”? That’s because if you ask different individuals to recount the same event, many times each will provide dissimilar descriptions. Even those involved in an accident will remember it in varied ways, many times at no fault of their own. A dash cam provides an unbiased recount of the data – visual, audible, and even GPS – to clarify what actually occurred.
Decrease Insurance Premiums: Don’t pay for someone else’s mistake. If your driver is at fault, that’s why you purchase insurance. But why pay for another driver’s error? Many times claims are split between parties because it cannot be reasonably determined who was at fault. A dash cam can protect your business from paying higher insurance premiums due to claims being incorrectly paid by your policy.
Pricing: Dash cams currently range from $20 up to $250. Models can found below or above those prices, but today a quality cameral can be purchased for very little investment. It no longer makes sense to postpone installing one.
Technology: These devices continue to become smaller, less noticeable, last longer, and add more features. They can come with front and rear cameras, lane departure warning systems, night vision, HD recording, GPS monitoring, G-force sensors, wide angle viewing, parked vehicle protection, wired or wireless, and many other options.
Faster Claim Processing: Every day your vehicle is out of service, your business is losing money. A dash cam can provide the proof needed to speed a claim through to settlement. Submit video evidence with your claim and the offending party’s insurance carrier will be obliged to accept liability, hurrying repair payments, and getting your business on the road again.
Protect Parked Vehicles: Certain model dash cams can record when your vehicle is parked at night. It can be programed such that, if it senses a jarring strike such as your vehicle being hit, it will lock that section of video into memory so you have proof of the responsible party when you discover the damage the next morning.
Protection from Your Passengers: We recently heard of a client driving a small bus that was rear-ended. After the accident, one of their passengers stood up, voiced their intention to sue, then fell down and pretended to be injured. The client had a dash cam that included a rear-facing camera and caught the entire event, including audio. The fraudulent case was dropped. This is not an isolated incident. In some cities, even gangs are becoming involved in well-coordinated, intricate fraud schemes.
Protection from Your Employees: Employees are your largest asset, as well as your biggest potential liability. Program your dash-cam to record speed, excessive braking force, and other incidents that can be used for training purposes. You may discover your best driver exhibits awful habits and has simply been lucky to not be involved in an accident. Use the dash cam to reward good driving habits and train a proper defensive mindset. In the unfortunate situation where a driver should need to be dismissed, the video evidence is protection against lawsuits for wrongful termination.
Where to Get One?
Dash cams can be purchased from Amazon.com, Walmart, and most electronics stores. Here are a few sources we have found. Buyer beware – we cannot endorse any:
- Amazon
- Roscoopens in a new window
- Lyxtopens in a new window
- Mobileyeopens in a new window
- USFleetTrackingopens in a new window
- BrickHouse Securityopens in a new window
- Teletracopens in a new window
Give us a call at (877) 606-1375 or visit our website for more information. Each one of our clients is assigned a personal agent in our office.
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