Many commercial trucking companies in Texas and across the U.S. require their trucks and 18-wheelers to be equipped with dashboard cameras, commonly called “dash cams.” In fact, nearly half of the nation’s commercial fleet now uses these devices. They’ve also become increasingly common in passenger vehicles. When a crash happens, dash cams can capture critical footage that shows exactly what took place — and this can be crucial evidence in a truck accident lawsuit.
But don’t expect the trucking company to hand their footage over willingly. Only the best truck accident lawyers know how to obtain and use this key evidence to secure the full compensation their clients deserve.
Read on to learn how the undefeated Texas truck accident attorneys at Zehl & Associates fight for and use dash cam footage in truck accident lawsuits—and how we stand up to the biggest trucking companies in the country to win record-breaking verdicts and settlements for our clients.
Do All Large Trucks and 18-Wheelers Have Dash Cams?
No, dash cams are not federally required on commercial trucks. However, their use has quickly become the industry standard, with the vast majority of trucking companies voluntarily installing them to improve safety, defend against liability, and reduce insurance costs.
As dash cam technology becomes more advanced and affordable every day, even more trucking fleets are adopting them as a standard safety tool.
While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates the use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) to track hours of service, it does not currently require dash cameras.
However, the FMCSA does have rules about where dash cams and other devices can be placed inside a truck’s cab to make sure they don’t block the driver’s view and meet safety standards.
How Can Dash Cam Footage Be Used if I Was Injured in a Truck Accident?
Dash cams can capture a wide range of data, including:
- Front-facing video footage showing how the crash occurred and whether the driver violated traffic laws
- Driver-facing video and audio recording if the driver was texting, eating, talking, distracted, fatigued, or behaving recklessly
- GPS data such as speed, location, and acceleration or braking patterns, which can reveal speeding, erratic driving, or loss of control
- Route history, showing the truck’s full trip to determine if the driver violated hours-of-service rules
- Timestamps verifying the exact timeline of the crash down to the second
When combined, this information serves as powerful evidence, providing an objective record of what happened before, during, and after a crash.
But time and again, we’ve seen firsthand how trucking companies will stop at nothing to conceal dash cam footage or twist it to protect their drivers and bottom line — even when it clearly reveals federal or state safety violations, reckless driving, or outright negligence.
When memories fade, stories change, or evidence mysteriously disappears, dash cam footage can level the playing field. But securing and using that footage effectively requires immediate action—and the right legal team.
How an Experienced Attorney Can Help
At Zehl & Associates, we’ve successfully used dash cam footage in some of the largest truck accident cases in U.S. history. Here’s how we make it work for our clients:
- We preserve footage before it’s lost or destroyed: Trucking companies often have internal policies that allow them to delete dash cam footage within days or even hours unless legal action is taken immediately. Our team acts fast to send preservation letters and secure that evidence. Once the footage is overwritten or deleted, recovery may be impossible. That’s why you need an experienced truck accident attorney—and you need one fast.
- We make sure it’s admissible in court: Not all footage is automatically allowed as evidence. Cameras may not capture every angle, and some footage may be incomplete, corrupted, or even intentionally withheld. We know how to assess, authenticate, and properly introduce dash cam video so it stands up in court.
- We work with top forensic dash cam and crash reconstruction experts: These experts help us analyze the footage frame by frame, determine vehicle speed and timing, and uncover driver behavior and more critical details others miss.
- We use dash cam footage to prove what really happened: Whether it’s showing that a truck driver was distracted, speeding, or violating federal safety regulations, we use dash cam footage to cut through false claims, expose the truth, and hold the trucking company fully accountable.
Dash cam footage can be powerful, but it isn’t always enough on its own to prove what really happened or why the accident was preventable in the first place. To turn that footage into results, you need the best law firm you can find, one with the resources and experience needed to stand up against the largest trucking companies in the world and not only win, but recover record-setting results on behalf of our clients.
At Zehl & Associates, that’s exactly what we do.
How Our Truck Accident Attorneys Use Dash Cam Footage to Hold Negligent Trucking Companies Fully Accountable
Having successfully represented thousands of truck accident victims in Texas and across the nation, our undefeated truck accident attorneys know exactly how to use dash cam video to prove critical facts and secure the full compensation you deserve, by:
- Proving Fault: Video can show exactly how the accident occurred, including whether the truck driver was speeding, distracted, or violating traffic laws. This helps clearly establish who caused the crash.
- Revealing Unsafe Conditions: Dash cams can capture dangerous road conditions, poor vehicle maintenance, or risky driver behavior—such as sudden lane changes or ignoring signals—that contributed to the accident.
- Disproving False Claims: Trucking companies and their drivers will stop at nothing to shift blame or downplay their role in a crash. Dash cam footage can expose inconsistencies or lies in their statements.
- Exposing the Severity of the Crash: Video can document the impact and aftermath, helping prove the extent of damages and injuries suffered. When used by a skilled truck accident lawyer, this evidence supports your recovery of maximum compensation.
We never back down until the trucking company is forced to take responsibility—and pay our clients every dollar they’re owed.
What if the Trucking Company Refuses to Share Dash Cam Footage?
After a crash, it’s common for trucking companies to delay, deny, or flat-out refuse to turn over dash cam footage, especially when it shows their driver was at fault. You won’t be able to get that footage on your own. That’s why having an experienced legal team on your side from the start is critical.
When a trucking company refuses to hand over dash cam video, we take immediate action to protect and secure the evidence by:
- Sending legal preservation letters immediately to prevent the trucking company from deleting or destroying video evidence.
- Filing court motions to force the release of footage when companies delay or refuse to hand it over.
- Uncovering deleted or “lost” footage, even after companies were told they were legally required to preserve it.
- Holding companies accountable when footage is destroyed, often resulting in serious penalties or rulings in our client’s favor.
We’ve even uncovered cases where companies removed dash cams from their vehicles before a crash in an attempt to avoid accountability. In 2025, we secured the largest verdict in Ben E. Keith’s corporate history after exposing that the company—one of the nation’s largest food distributors—had pulled all dash cameras from its trucks prior to a fatal crash. Under oath, a corporate representative admitted that removing the cameras reduced driver safety and violated industry standards for a fleet of nearly 2,000 trucks.
Without fast legal action, crucial dash cam footage can disappear or never exist at all. That’s why it’s essential to hire a truck accident attorney as soon as possible.
Contact us before the evidence is gone for good.
Why Zehl & Associates Is the Best Choice for Truck Accidents in Texas
At Zehl & Associates, we use dash cam footage in addition to other key evidence to prove what really happened. Then we demand the maximum compensation our clients deserve.
Our team of truck accident attorneys have a track record of using dashcam evidence to show a history of traffic violations, unsafe driving, and inadequate training.
Our recent victories using video footage include:
- #1 largest truck accident settlement in Montgomery County history using dash cam and black box data to leave no doubt in the jury’s mind to return with a seven-figure verdict for our client.
- Confidential record-setting recovery using dash cam video captured by law enforcement that recorded the truck driver’s reckless actions before the crash.
- $37.5M verdict using traffic cam footage and forensic animation to prove a truck driver was distracted and never hit the brakes before rear-ending our client at 70 mph in Dallas.
- $35M settlement using body cam footage and forensic cell phone data to prove a truck driver was distracted at the time of a deadly crash in Dallas.
We don’t just win cases — we take care of our clients like family. From connecting you with top medical specialists to covering your medical bills and reasonable living expenses while your case is pending, our team is here to support you around the clock. To make sure your questions are answered. And to make sure you and your family never have to worry again.
When you choose Zehl & Associates, you’re choosing a firm that stands by you every step of the way.
Contact the Texas Truck Accident Lawyers from Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers for Help Today, Call (888) 603-3636
Our undefeated Texas 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers repeatedly take on the largest trucking companies in the world and not only win — we set records. With Billions won, we have secured the largest record-setting verdicts and settlements for accident victims in Texas and across the U.S. Once hired, we will do whatever it takes to recover the justice and maximum compensation you deserve.
For more information, please contact our truck accident attorneys in Midland at Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas. We are located in Houston and Midland and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours