If you have a car, just get a security camera. Many videos circulating on social media show how easy it is to verify a person’s claims: like this man who was acquitted after nearly hitting a young girl who ran into the middle of the street without warning. While opposing statements said his car did indeed hit the child, the dashcam proved that he was able to stop the car in time.
They can also be very useful tools when it comes to accident claims, the insurance official said in a viral TikTok post that had more than 21,000 views as of Friday.
Estrada (@mommaestradaa) relayed a story proving the effectiveness of surveillance cameras, even if she and her client were on the receiving end of the recording device’s justice.
Estrada begins her video by answering a question from another TikToker who asked: “What do you think about Dash Cams?”
“Very well,” she replies, before launching into story time that reveals her emotions on the devices.
She shared how “a long time ago” she received a claim from an insured client that someone had hit his parked car. She explains how she recorded his statement, checked his background and claims, and everything seemed fine, so she implemented the cover-up.
However, after about 30 days or so, Estrada learned there was more to the case.
“Fast forward maybe a month, I want to say I received a subrogation request in one month. “For those who don’t know what a subrogation request is, it’s basically a request for compensation from another person or a carrier,” Estrada explains. “In this case, It was another insurance company that was seeking compensation from our policy. And I was saying, “Why would you seek compensation from our policy if the poor insured was involved in a hit-and-run accident?”
Estrada says she decided to investigate the matter further and immediately challenged the insurance company, insisting that their company was responsible for the damages resulting from the accident.
According to this competing insurance company, the “insured” Estrada was referring to, her client, was the one who committed the hit-and-run.
“So here’s the thing: As your insurance company, I’m going to drive well for you,” she says. “I’ll say, ‘Well, the insured didn’t say that.’ I’m your insurance company and I always believe you.
@mommaestradaa Reply to @Bunnylover #adjuster #adjustertok #autoadjuster ♬ original sound – mommmma
As part of her decision to defend her client, she asked the competing insurance company if they had any evidence to support their claims.
“I remember his tone saying, ‘Well, I bet, I have a dash cam.’ And I said, ‘Oh, well send it. Send it.’ ‘I want to see it,’” Estrada says. Then she called her insurer and asked them if there was something they needed to tell her, she says.
She laughs again before continuing her story, “I’m not kidding, he says no.” No, I was involved in a hit and run, standing his ground.
Well, unless her client had a major lapse in his memory or remembered the incident in a completely different light, it seemed like they were completely lying.
“Girl, when that dash cam footage comes out, it clearly shows the insured in the little Ford Fiesta getting back into the client’s car and fleeing the scene,” Estrada says.
“The dash cam was clear as day, and captured us in 4K. We ended up accepting responsibility after that, but to answer your question, what do I think of a dash cam?” she concludes. “Very useful and will help you in the rarest of scenarios that you would probably never even imagine yourself Because imagine if the other insurance company didn’t have a dash cam? “I would have stood my ground, I would have denied it.”
Despite losing the case and being held financially responsible for the hit and run, some viewers who watched the video were impressed that Estrada immediately wanted to support her client.
“I love how frustrating you are! Sitting on that call like ‘how dare you?!'” one wrote.
Another person wondered why not all new models come with cameras installed inside them (there are many), writing: “Every car should come with them installed at this point.”
Another insurance adjuster sounded off in the comments that dash cams are truly a lifesaver.
“Even incorporating accidents – or red lights – it’s a lot of words for words – I have a dash cam – the adjuster is here lol,” they said.
While insurers will often lower monthly coverage costs on vehicles that have additional safety features, such as backup cameras for blind spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking/crash detection, Progressive states that providers rarely offer discounts to customers Who have surveillance cameras installed in their cars.
However, the company said that dash cams can be invaluable tools in a situation where your version of the events is being contested.
“They can help you avoid increasing your insurance rate by providing proof that you were not at fault for the accident,” one user wrote.
The Daily Dot reached out to Estrada via the TikTok comment.
*First published: January 19, 2024, 8:00 PM CST
Jack Alban
Jack Alban is a freelance journalist for The Daily Dot covering trending human concerns, social media stories, and real people’s reactions to them. He always strives to incorporate evidence-based studies, current events, and relevant facts into these stories to create a viral publication that is anything but mediocre.