My coworker had grainy dashcam footage rejected outright.
Yeah, I'd agree it's pretty hit-or-miss. My sister had a minor fender-bender a while back, and her dashcam footage was crystal clear—license plates, faces, everything—but the insurance rep still dragged their feet for weeks before finally accepting it. Seems like clarity helps, but it also depends on who's handling your claim and how familiar they are with dashcams. Still, having good footage definitely beats having none at all...
"Seems like clarity helps, but it also depends on who's handling your claim and how familiar they are with dashcams."
Yeah, totally agree with this. Last year I had a similar headache—my footage wasn't exactly Hollywood quality, but you could still clearly see the other guy running the red. Insurance still took their sweet time reviewing it and initially acted skeptical. Eventually, though, it saved me from being blamed. Honestly, even a cheap dashcam is worth it if it prevents your premiums from skyrocketing...
"Insurance still took their sweet time reviewing it and initially acted skeptical."
Yeah, insurance companies can be pretty cautious (or stubborn...) when reviewing dashcam footage. I've found that clearly labeling timestamps and providing a short written summary of key moments helps speed things up a bit. Still, patience is key—it's frustrating, but you're right: even basic dashcams can save you from bigger headaches down the road. Glad yours eventually worked out in your favor.
"Insurance still took their sweet time reviewing it and initially acted skeptical."
Yeah, I've been on both sides of this. Had my own dashcam claim once, and even knowing exactly what they needed didn't speed things up much. Sometimes it's just bureaucracy... annoying, but that's insurance for ya.
Totally get your frustration there—insurance companies can drag their feet worse than a classic car with a bad carburetor. Had a similar experience myself when my '67 Mustang got rear-ended. Even with clear dashcam footage, they still acted like I was pulling some kind of fast one... took weeks to finally sort out. It's not always skepticism, though—sometimes it's just outdated procedures and too many hands in the pot slowing things down. Still, doesn't make it any less aggravating when you're stuck waiting.
