Car accidents are unfortunately common, whether you live in a dense urban area or a rural community, and even if no one is harmed, a fender bender can really put a cramp in your day as you deal with police, insurance, and delays. But is there a better way to deal with the inconvenience of a car accident and still compensate affected parties? New apps could streamline claims and clarify issues of fault that previously made car accidents into battlegrounds.
Before you get back in your car, check out the app store for these 3 tools and learn about an important accident detection method that could be on the horizon. Will you be ready when you get behind the wheel?
The Dash Cam Debates
Dash cams are one of the most controversial pieces of in-vehicle technology we’ve seen in recent years, right up there with debates over how we use our phones while in transit. What’s the fuss? While dash cam recordings can prove fault in an accident, many see them as an invasion of privacy. Is there a way to strike a balance?
Drivers who want to test out dash cam technology without investing in a new device might consider downloading an app like CamOnRoad, currently only available for Android devices. CamOnRoad turns your phone into a dash cam, allowing you to record footage while driving and use it as proof in the event of an accident. How you feel about this level of surveillance may help you decide about investing in a more permanent device.
Ready To Report
Proper documentation during the reporting process is one of the most important concerns arising in the wake of a car accident, but it isn’t an intuitive process. To make sure you don’t miss any information, download AxiKit Accident Report Kit.
AxiKit will guide you through the reporting process, prompting you to provide information, using voice recording to simplify the process, and mapping your accident to the correct position via satellite. All your information can also be emailed to your insurance company when complete. No more costly novice mistakes – and don’t we all hope to be novices at filing accident reports?
Dialing Up Distraction
Though most people think first of issues like drunk driving and speeding when they think of hazards on the road, according to the lawyers at Herrman and Herrman, distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents today. That’s because people often try to dial their phones, send text messages, or open apps while driving. Unfortunately, in many cases it’s harder to prove distracted driving than more quantifiable factors like speeding or alcohol consumption.
In an attempt to nail down distracted driving conditions, New York State is reviewing the use of “textalyzer” technology. New York is often a leader in public safety efforts – think legal bans on even carrying a hoverboard on the NYC Subway – the textalyzer is a new concept for enforcement around phone use while driving.
How does the textalyzer work? The idea behind the device is that it would be able to scan your phone to determine whether a driver was texting immediately before an accident. Stay out of the spotlight and just get Siri to send your texts, okay?
Identifying Insurance
The last thing anyone wants to worry about in the aftermath of an accident is making sure they’ve taken down the other person’s insurance information accurately – and then making sure not to lose it. Now you can avoid all that trouble with the Assisto app for Android and iOS. Assisto scans the QR code on the insurance and fills in the necessary information in the accident report.
Assisto also lets you attach pictures of the accident and other important information for your report, so this is a must have for any driver. You’ll be glad not to have to hand-transcribe all those details.
No matter how responsible you are when you hit the road, there’s always the risk of an accident. It could be a blown tire or a drunk driver, a fallen branch or a moment’s distraction. Be ready to report back – and prove it wasn’t your fault.
