"Dashcams do seem useful, but knowing my luck, I'd probably forget to turn it on the one time I actually needed it..."
Haha, that's exactly what I thought at first. But honestly, most dashcams nowadays automatically start recording when you turn the ignition—no extra steps needed. I was skeptical too until a friend got rear-ended at a stoplight and the other driver tried claiming he reversed into them. His dashcam footage saved him a ton of trouble with insurance. Definitely made me reconsider my stance...
Yeah, dashcams are handy, but I'm curious—would footage really help much with PIP claims? Thought PIP covered your own medical bills regardless of fault, so maybe dashcam evidence isn't as crucial there... or am I missing something?
"Thought PIP covered your own medical bills regardless of fault, so maybe dashcam evidence isn't as crucial there... or am I missing something?"
You're right that PIP covers your medical expenses regardless of who's at fault, but dashcam footage can still be surprisingly helpful. A couple years back, a client of mine had clear dashcam footage showing the severity of the impact. Initially, their insurer questioned the extent of injuries, but after seeing the video, they quickly approved the full claim. So yeah, it's not always necessary—but it can smooth things out when there's doubt.
Dashcam footage definitely has its perks beyond just fault determination. Had a minor fender-bender last year—didn't seem like much at first, but my dashcam caught the exact angle and force of impact. When I started having neck issues a few days later, the insurer initially pushed back, thinking it was exaggerated. Sent them the footage, and suddenly they were way more cooperative. So yeah, PIP covers you regardless, but video evidence can save you some headaches down the line...
Dashcams are definitely handy, but gotta say, even without one, PIP has saved my bacon a couple times. Here's how I've seen it play out from my own experience:
- First off, PIP kicks in regardless of who's at fault, so you're covered for medical bills and lost wages right away—no waiting around for insurance companies to duke it out. Big relief if you're like me and don't have a ton of savings stashed away for emergencies.
- But, and this is a big BUT... insurers can still be skeptical. Had a similar situation to yours—got rear-ended at a stoplight. Didn't seem like much damage, just a cracked bumper and some scratches. Felt fine initially, but woke up two days later with a neck that felt like I'd slept on concrete.
- Called up insurance, and they started asking questions like I was exaggerating the pain or something. Didn't have dashcam footage (wish I did now!), but luckily had photos of the damage and doctor's notes from my visit. Took some back-and-forth, but eventually they came around. Lesson learned: document EVERYTHING, even if it seems minor at first.
- Dashcams are great if you can afford one, but even without video evidence, you can still protect yourself by taking quick photos at the scene and seeing a doc right away—even if you feel okay at first. Injuries have a sneaky way of showing up later.
- Also worth mentioning: PIP limits vary by state. Check your coverage limits carefully—minimum required amounts might not be enough if things get serious.
Honestly, I'm usually pretty budget-conscious (okay, cheap), but after that experience, I upped my PIP coverage just to be safe. A few extra bucks each month feels worth it now compared to the stress of fighting insurers later on...
