Can Virtual Reality Change the Future of Car Accident Claims?

Metier Law Firm
Wed, 09 Mar 2016 19:00:36 +0000
Safety Lawyer, VirtualReality

When you think of virtual reality, you probably picture a video gamer sitting on a couch wearing a helmet-like contraption on his or her head and shouting something about a swarm of zombies. But soon the same technology that lets you fight off hoards of the digital undead could change the future of real world car accident claims and help you win your case. The key is the new 360 degree cameras that have been developed by Samsung and LG Electronics. These cameras can capture pictures and video in all directions at the same time.

How Does Virtual Reality Work?

Right now, the 360 degree cameras each have two curved lenses facing in opposite directions. When a photo is taken, the two images, which each capture 180 degrees, are digitally sewn together to create the picture. You can then view the picture through a virtual reality headset (many of which actually use your phone as a screen). Then, as you turn your head, it is as if you are standing where the camera was placed and looking around a real 3D environment. And the same thing happens if you watch a video this way.

How Can This Help If I Have Been in a Car Accident?

If you get into a car accident, one of the most important things you can do is take a picture of the wreck so that you can prove who was at fault. If the other driver hit you, but you have no photos to prove that his truck rear-ended your car, the car insurance company may not pay to cover your damages, and may even try to blame it on you!

A 360 degree camera would make getting proof of who is at fault much easier. One or two photos would be all it would take to capture the whole scene, from the broken plastic under your feet to the powerlines overhead.

But the ability to record evidence after an accident may only be the start of the technological car accident revolution. Already, many people are equipping their cars with on-board cameras that record the road ahead of them. Some cars have cameras that help you see what is behind you so that you can back up safely. There are even cars that will automatically hit the brakes for you if their sensors detect that the car in front of you is too close.

Now, imagine what would happen if all of these were 360 degree cameras. After a crash, the video from these cameras would show exactly what was happening on every side of your car leading up to the crash. Accident reconstruction, which already uses data from your car’s onboard computer to determine things like how fast you were moving, would become a much more exact science. This could prove invaluable when you file an insurance claim or if you file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent driver.

When it comes to insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits that involve car accidents, evidence is key. The more you have to prove that the other driver was at fault, the more likely you are to win your case. So while virtual reality may be a great way to make video games about zombies more fun, it may ultimately prove to be much more useful in the real word as a way for your personal injury lawyer to help you get the money you deserve after a car accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a real-world car accident, our Colorado law firm may be able to help. Let us put our 30 years of experience to work for you.