Dashcams offer clear benefits to transportation businesses and commercial drivers, especially when it comes to defending against false or exaggerated legal claims. But those benefits depend not only on the type of video telematics solution you choose, but also on how you manage it.

With insurance premiums having jumped by nearly 50% over the past decade, and multimillion-dollar verdicts becoming more common, fleets need more than just a camera. Insurers and regulators are paying close attention to how fleets record, store, and use video — and juries weigh documentation and processes as much as footage itself.

This guide draws from industry research, legal expertise, and practical technology insights to help fleets navigate the legal aspects of dashcam usage.

Understanding today’s operating landscape

The trucking industry continues to navigate challenges around safety, compliance, and

The trucking industry is under more pressure than ever — juggling safety concerns, compliance demands, and skyrocketing insurance premiums. Lawsuit abuse has become such a hot-button issue that the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) recently ranked it the third biggest challenge facing fleets.

Some states are starting to push back, introducing reforms like capping non-economic damages, requiring transparency in litigation funding, and even allowing seatbelt use as evidence. These measures aim to level the playing field, but the stakes remain high.

Consider this: one in four trucking-related trials ends with a verdict of $10 million or more. With so much on the line, fleets can’t afford to rely on guesswork. They need clear, indisputable evidence that tells the real story.

That’s where dashcams make the difference. By capturing what actually happened on the road, they help carriers resolve disputes faster, keep costs under control, and build a stronger culture of accountability and safety.

Why event-based cameras work best

Nearly 90% of legal experts favor event-based dashcams over systems that continuously record. The reason for this is that limiting footage to key events lowers the risk of unrelated evidence being pulled into discovery. In fact, 42% of legal experts had seen cases where a continuously recording camera captured damaging information that an event-based device would not have.

Next-generation dashcams take event-based capture a step further by proactively helping drivers avoid incidents in the first place. With AI running directly on the device, these systems go beyond basic triggers like harsh braking or speeding. They can detect high-risk behaviors in real time, such as distracted or drowsy driving, and immediately alert drivers to self-correct.

This shift from “recording everything” to “recording what matters and preventing more of it” also improves driver buy-in while reducing storage and privacy concerns tied to always-on video.

Video retention guidelines for protecting your fleet

When it comes to false claims, retention policies matter as much as recording policies. Legal experts agree that incident video files should be kept only for the duration of the statute of limitations in the state where the incident occurred. This is often two years but can vary from state to state based on the type of incident.

Equally important, non-incident video should not linger. Routine coaching clips, for example, should be deleted regularly to prevent them from being inappropriately used against carriers in court.

The solution lies in establishing a clear and standardized video telematics policy on recording, using, storing, and deleting dashcam footage. In a nutshell, this means:

• Keeping only what’s material: Incident video stays for the statute of limitations; routine coaching clips are purged automatically
• Maintaining secure handling: Role-based permissions and audit trails show responsible governance
• Preventing premature loss: Legal holds pause deletion when litigation is expected
• Enabling a self-correcting lifecycle: Video is retained only as long as necessary, then securely discarded

This creates a foundation that not only protects the fleet legally but also supports effective driver coaching.

Coaching that helps, not hurts

Effective driver coaching based on video footage can improve fleet safety and show a carrier’s commitment to running safer operations.

AI-powered severity scoring highlights the riskiest behaviors first, helping managers focus on the highest-priority coaching opportunities. Short, structured sessions using actual video clips make feedback clear, actionable, and memorable.

Progressive coaching — including recognition for improvement, reinforcement of safe performance, and, when necessary, corrective action — supports behavior change and helps build a strong, documented culture of safety across the fleet.

Clarity wins: capture what matters

AI-powered video capture, organized timelines, and configurable retention make it easy to quickly find the footage you need — no more sifting through hours of unrelated clips.

This helps teams resolve incidents faster, support insurance or regulatory processes, and maintain a clear, accurate record of events.

Whatever the size, type or use of your fleet, the EROAD Clarity Edge AI Dashcam combines high-definition, dual-view video with actionable telematics data to give you clear context when it matters most.