At Tolima’s Auto Center, a common question we receive is whether we recommend dash cams and if we install them. The answer is a resounding yes, and here’s why you should consider one, particularly in light of recent insurance fraud schemes in New York City.
Why Install a Dash Cam?
- Protection Against Scammers:
- Recently in NYC there have has been a rise in scammers causing accidents on purpose to make it look like the victim caused the accident so they can sue to victim for medical bills and damages. As a sort of a get rich quick scheme.
- Here is a Real-Life Example of Fraud Prevention:
- In the video below you have the scammers quickly merge in front of the victim’s car and slam on their brakes. When that failed to cause the scammers to get rear ended the driver in the scammer’s car quickly put the car in reverse and backed up into the victim’s car making it look like the scammer got rear ended.
How Dash Cams Work in Scams
Because in this case the victim had a dash cam it can easily be proven that the scammers caused the accident on purpose. This allows the victim to sue the scammers and defend themselves in court against group trying to play the victim.
You can see in the video above one of the scammers suddenly got nervous when he notices that the victim’s car had a dash camera and recorded the whole incident.
Benefits of Dash Cams Beyond Fraud Prevention
Dash cameras can also provide defense against unfair speeding or stop sign tickets that may be issued by the police.
Most quality dash cams use GPS to record speed, time, and location you can prove that you were speeding excessively or that you came to a full stop at the stop sign.
Types of Dash Cams
There are Single Channel, Dual Channel, and even Tri-Channel Dash Cams.
The most common and basic one is a single channel which only records from your windshield looking forward.
Dual channel dash cams simultaneously record front and back of the vehicle so you can also see what is happening behind your vehicle.
Finally, there are Tri-zone cameras that record front, back, and inside the vehicle. These are most commonly used in taxis and commercial vehicles in case it is necessary to show what happened inside the vehicle.
Installation at Tolima’s Auto Center
Dash cameras are designed to be simple to mount and install byt the average user, are powered externally by the cigarette lighter or some other power source that requires the camera to be plugged in and turned on.
When we install your dash camera professionally we hardwire the dash camera system into the car’s electrical system so the camera starts recording when you start the engine or if the camera has a parking mode it gets continuous power to record in case your car gets hit by someone when the car is parked.
We can also install systems to make sure that the dash camera doesn’t drain your battery completely while in standby or parking mode so you don’t run the risk of having your car not start due to a weak battery.
In an era where insurance fraud and traffic disputes can easily escalate, a dash cam is not just an accessory but a necessity for every driver. At Tolima’s Auto Center, we ensure that your vehicle is equipped to protect you on the road.
If you have any questions about installing a dash camera in your car, fell free to reach out to us at Tolima’s Auto Center.
Don’t become a victim; equip your car with a dash cam today!
Also, check out our YouTube channel to see the video version of this blog post!
