Dash Camera Forensic Services
WHAT IS DASH CAMERA FORENSICS?
Dash camera forensics is the application of forensic analysis of a dash camera system as well as the evidence recordings it produces. Though this type of investigation, a qualified forensic video analyst will interrogate a system to determine the truth about an accident, altercation, or accusation in a legal case. Video cameras are considered eyewitnesses once authenticated in the courtroom. However, video cameras don’t always make the most reliable and accurate eyewitnesses. When evidence is recovered using widely accepted best practices, the conclusions that follow an investigation are most accurate. Dash camera video evidence is considered high probative value when it is analyzed to make determinations about traffic light positions, vehicle speeds and identification of subjects/objects.
NOT EVERY CASE IS THE SAME
DASH CAMERA FORENSIC SERVICES
Digital video evidence produced by dash camera systems is one of the most common sources of evidence used in civil litigation claims where insurance claims are being disputed. Our experts apply dash camera forensics to aid in answering the following questions:
VIDEO AUTHENTICITY
If the chain of custody can’t be fully identified, forensic video analysis experts will examine the recording closely to find evidence of editing on their own. Any signs of altering will classify the footage as inauthentic. This analysis aids in answering the question; is the video an authentic copy or has it been altered?
VIDEO RECOVERY
When video evidence was not captured or has gone missing, recovery methodology can assist in recovering the evidence as well as determining the reason as to why the dash camera equipment did not engage in recording the events. This analysis aids in answering the question; why was the audio, video or image evidence not recorded?
OVERALL DEVICE CONFIGURATION
With thousands of dash cameras on the market today globally, overall functionality of each camera will vary. Demonstration of functionality especially when integrated with other systems in a vehicle can be critical in the courtroom. This analysis aids in answer the question; how was the device operating at the time of the incident?
DATE/TIME ANALYSIS
This analysis aids in answer the question; what was the accurate date/time at the time of the incident?
GPS LOCATION
This analysis aids in answer the question; what was the path traveled or the specific location of the incident?
HUMAN EYE V CAMERA PERSPECTIVE
Cameras don't always capture and encode the events as they occurred in real life. Often times a comparison of the differences between the human eye and a video camera will assist in making determinations for court. This analysis aids in answering the question; what are the differences between the human eye and the camera?
SPEED ESTIMATION
Often times, dash camera systems preserve proprietary speed information that can be interpreted and verified using forensic tools. This analysis aids in answering the question; what were the speeds of vehicles involved in a incident?
TRAFFIC SIGNAL POSITION
This analysis aids in answering the question; what was the position of the traffic signals at the time of the incident?
AUDIO ANALYSIS
When a dash camera captures audio evidence, sounds or the absence of sounds may require interpretation. This analysis aids in answering the question; how loud was the siren, horn or other sound at the time of the incident?
VIDEO ENHANCEMENT
Even in 4k video recordings, temporal/spatial compression can introduce artifacts or remove important information. Forensic video enhancement: can assist in identification of vehicle types, company logos, DOT numbers, license plate numbers and more.
We offer a 30-minute pro bono conversation either on the phone or video conference
to discuss your case and video recordings.
TYPES OF DASH CAMERAS
CONSUMER SYSTEMS
Consumer grade systems are often the least sophisticated and capture the lowest video quality. Often times, determinations need to be provided as to the differences between the way this particular witness captures the incident vs how the human eye would have observed the incidents.
LAW ENFORCMENT IN CAR SYSTEMS
Law enforcement vehicles employ in-car camera systems to aid the trier of fact in making accurate determinations about calls that law enforcement officers respond to. Our dash camera forensic services can assist in making determinations about microphone functionality as well as emergency response operation.
INTEGRATED TRUCKING SYSTEMS
These video recordings often help identify persons and vehicles responsible for collisions. These systems can capture forward and rear facing perspectives integrating with ELD tracking systems through the cloud.
COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS
Buses and other public transportation vehicles also employ dash cameras. They are designed to capture information similarly to other fleet-based systems but can operate in a proprietary configuration. These configurations often include an abundance of information which requires examination and analysis.