Your daily drive is often uneventful, but an accident can change that in a hurry. Perhaps another driver will swerve in front of you and slam on their brakes, causing you to slam into the back of their vehicle. You maintain that the other driver made an unsafe maneuver and is at fault, but they claim that you were following too closely. Even with other witnesses, the incident can easily be treated as a "he said, she said" case and result in higher insurance rates.

Dashboard cameras offer an increasingly popular way to protect your vehicle and driving record. The footage captured by the camera can provide crucial evidence in a crash or other incidents. The technology can also be useful in deterring vandals or simply recording some beautiful sights during a road trip.

"Dash cams" are mounted inside a vehicle and record the view through the windshield. Two-way versions also record the interior of the vehicle, and thus have the ability to monitor the behavior of the driver and other occupants.

By recording these views during a trip, a dash cam can show exactly what happens during an accident. Doug DeMuro, writing for Autotrader, says an at-fault driver can easily blame you for an accident they caused. These claims can be difficult to disprove in some cases, and you might even start to second-guess yourself.

The dash cam video might offer incontrovertible proof of your innocence, and can be given to the police as evidence. The footage will allow you to make a claim on the other driver's insurance and may get them charged for irresponsible driving as well.

Dash cams can also help you report dangerous drivers to the police. Security Bros, a security system review site, says it can be difficult to get pertinent information when you are the victim of a road rage incident or see a driver who is drunk, distracted, or otherwise creating a hazard. By reviewing the video, you may be able to get the license plate number of the offending vehicle.

Russian drivers have taken a particular liking to dash cams, and the Internet is full of videos showing how they have foiled attempts at insurance fraud. A passerby might feign being hit by a vehicle and try to extort money from a driver, or scammers can instigate a fender-bender to collect money on your insurance. The video can undermine a fraudster's story and keep your driving record clean.

A dash cam's footage isn't just useful for providing a record of an accident; it can also make traffic tickets disappear. Penny Gusner, writing for Insurance.com, says the video can be an especially useful piece of evidence when appealing a ticket. The exterior view might show that you came to a complete stop at an intersection, while an interior view can be used to dispute a distracted driving citation.

By reviewing the dash cam data, you can see if there are any areas where your driving needs improvement. If you are teaching a teenager how to drive, the footage becomes a valuable teaching tool. You can go over the video of a practice drive and show where the new driver needs improvement.

Dash cams will generally only record footage when the engine is running. However, some versions will also switch on if a parked vehicle is disturbed. Security Bros say this feature might capture images of another vehicle that backed into yours while trying to park. It can also record footage of anyone who tries to break into your vehicle or vandalize it.

During long trips or even on your normal drives around town, dash cams can record interesting or unusual sights. Thanks to the plethora of these devices in Russia, several drivers were able to record footage of a powerful meteor airburst which affected the Urals region in 2013.

Dash cams have become much more affordable in recent years, but the quality will vary based on price. Ben Wojdyla, writing for Popular Mechanics, says cheaper models will have lower resolution. As the price goes up, you'll benefit from features such as high resolution, two-way recorders, and even a second camera to mount at the rear of the vehicle.

Older dash cams may not be as reliable as newer models. Unicom, a British motor trade insurance company, says smaller, discreet cameras are more effective than larger, more noticeable ones. Newer cameras employ loop recording, taping over old footage so they are constantly taking video. If a camera doesn't use this method, it will eventually use up the available storage space and stop recording.

Cameras may come with GPS, audio notifications, and other helpful features. However, it may be better to get a model that just passively records footage. Desjardins Insurance, a Canadian company, says a dash cam won't make you safer if it proves distracting.

Currently, drivers can't benefit from any discounts on their auto insurance due to the presence of a dash cam. However, insurers may consider adding this benefit in the future.