Why All Motorcycle Riders Should Wear a Helmet Camera

Bill Allen | June 6, 2022 | Motorcycle Accident

Although the roads can sometimes be perilous for motorcycle riders, there are many things they can do to keep safe, including wearing helmets and protective clothing. There are also measures riders can take to help them with a personal injury claim if they get in an accident. One of them is wearing a helmet cam.

Why Wearing a Helmet Camera Is Helpful

Florida roads are heavily policed and maintained to help keep them safe. However, accidents still happen. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), there were 8,045 motorcycle accidents in 2020 on Florida roadways, with 552 of those being fatalities and 1,890 being incapacitating injuries. 

Although a helmet camera may not help prevent an accident, it will surely be useful in sorting out the issues that must be resolved after any crash. With today’s heavy use of cameras (from traffic to dashboard to surveillance), video is frequently used to settle legal matters, both civil and criminal. 

If you were involved in a motorcycle accident and were wearing a helmet camera, you’ll have:

  • Evidence that can refute a lying or confused witness or other driver
  • Evidence that can refute a police report citing you as at fault
  • Evidence that shows the extent of a devastating crash
  • Evidence that the other driver or drivers were negligent or reckless
  • Evidence that you were obeying the rules of the road
  • Potentially lower insurance rates, as most insurance companies give discounts to riders with helmets

Additionally, helmet cams will speak for you if you suffer an incapacitating injury. They will also help fill in the blanks and gaps with information you may not be able to recall due to a crash’s effect on your memory. 

Finally, there may be important details about your accident that the human eye cannot capture at the moment of occurrence, but that may appear on the video. 

If you have been in a motorcycle accident and are working with an attorney, you will experience firsthand just how helpful helmet-cam video is. Your motorcycle attorney will use the footage in depositions, negotiations, and court like a sharp tool that cuts to the truth of a matter.

The Legality of Wearing a Helmet Camera

Cameras are a sensitive issue in society. Many people do not want to be videoed by a complete stranger; some even get visibly agitated and may lash out. However, Florida law is clear on when you can and cannot use a video camera in public. 

Essentially, you can shoot video anywhere in public and of anyone who does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy while being filmed. In other words, if a reasonable person believes they should have privacy in a specific situation, it would be illegal to film them in that situation. 

An individual in a department store’s changing room has a reasonable expectation of privacy that they will not be filmed while undressing. However, this same person does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy when walking from the store to their car. 

Likewise, a motorist on a public roadway does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy that they will not be filmed while driving.

Wear a Helmet Camera to Support a Claim for Damages

If you are a motorcycle rider who loves being out on the roadways, safety is likely high on your list of concerns, and rightfully so. With a helmet, the right clothing, and other protective measures, you can reduce your chances of experiencing a serious injury. 

And with video from a helmet cam, you can help ensure you have a strong accident claim if you are involved in an accident. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney will skillfully use the footage to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Contact Our Gainesville Motorcycle Accident Law Firm in North Central Florida

If you need legal assistance, contact the Gainesville motorcycle accident lawyers at Allen Law Firm at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We have two convenient locations in North Central Florida:

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Gainesville office
2550 SW 76th St #150
Gainesville, FL 32608
(877) 255-3652

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Ocala Office
112 S Pine Ave
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 351-3258