gentle-elk-9005/10/2026

Other driver lied to cops about who ran the light — I have dashcam proof. What now?

Still kind of shaking as I write this so bear with me.

Got hit on the driver's side this afternoon at an intersection. The other guy blew straight through a red light and slammed into me hard enough to deploy my side curtain airbags. I'm pretty sure I have whiplash — my neck started stiffening up within the hour and I ended up getting checked out at urgent care.

Here's where it gets infuriating: the guy immediately jumps out of his truck, starts walking around pointing at me like I'm the problem, and tells the responding officer that I was the one who ran the light. Full confidence. Zero hesitation. Just a flat-out lie.

What he didn't know is that I've had a dashcam running for the past year — forward and rear facing. I grabbed it off the mount the second I collected myself, partly because I didn't want it walked off in the confusion. The footage is crystal clear. Green light for me, red for him, no ambiguity.

So now I'm dealing with:

A police report that I'm not sure accurately reflects what happened (officer took both statements and seemed... noncommittal?)
An urgent care visit I paid out of pocket while I wait to figure out whose insurance is handling this
A stiff neck that's getting worse, not better
A lot of anger at someone who just casually tried to make me the bad guy

I've already backed the footage up in three places. My question is — do I contact the officer directly to submit the video? Do I go straight to insurance? Should I be talking to a lawyer before I talk to anyone?

Any advice from people who've been through something like this would really help right now.

9 replies

Most helpful first

wise-grouse-2435/10/2026
I went through almost the exact same thing two years ago — other driver lied, I had footage, still took months to sort out. First thing I'd say: do not send the raw video to the other driver's insurance company unprompted. Get your own claim going with your insurer first and let them request it through proper channels. I learned that lesson the hard way when the other side tried to spin even my dashcam footage.
- humble-bison-3585/10/2026
  A few practical things from someone who's worked in a PI office:
  
  1. Request a copy of the police report as soon as it's available — usually 3–7 business days. Read it carefully. If the narrative is wrong, you can often file a supplemental statement or request an amendment, especially if you have video proof. 2. Submit your dashcam footage to the investigating officer in writing (email if possible) so there's a record that you provided it. 3. Keep every receipt — urgent care, any prescriptions, even parking at the doctor. Everything.
  
  Not legal advice, just stuff I've seen matter down the line.
keen-badger-5325/10/2026
Insurance adjusters — even your own — are not your friends in this scenario. They're trained to close files cheaply and fast. If you're still hurting, don't give a recorded statement yet. They will absolutely call you within the next 48 hours asking to 'just ask a few quick questions.' You have the right to delay that until you know the full extent of your injuries. The whiplash thing especially — symptoms can get significantly worse over the following week.
- calm-kestrel-0265/10/2026
  Three things: back up that footage to the cloud right now if you haven't already, see a real doctor (not just urgent care) this week, and don't post the video publicly until you know how this is going to play out legally. Putting it online can complicate things even when you're 100% in the right.
clear-dove-8885/10/2026
Please go back if that neck stiffness is spreading or getting worse rather than plateauing. Urgent care can do a basic check but they often don't order imaging unless you push for it. Whiplash that feels like 'just soreness' on day one can turn into something that needs physical therapy or specialist follow-up. Document every symptom, every day, even if it feels minor. That record matters medically and if this ends up in any kind of claim.
hearty-tern-3465/10/2026
With clear liability footage like you're describing, you're in a better position than most people who come forward after an intersection crash. That said, before you talk to the other driver's insurer at all, it would be worth a free consultation with a PI attorney — most won't charge just to tell you where you stand. Not legal advice, just think your footage changes the calculus here and you don't want to accidentally undercut yourself before you understand your options.
sharp-lynx-7575/10/2026
I used to work claims for a major carrier and I'll tell you — when a dash cam video surfaces showing clear liability, it changes everything internally. The file gets flagged, coverage decisions shift. Your insurer will want that video. The other insurer will also eventually want it once your company puts them on notice. What you want to avoid is letting either side 'lose' the narrative before the footage is part of the official file. Put it in writing when you submit it, and confirm receipt.
patient-fox-3265/10/2026
I'm really sorry this happened to you. The lying part would make me absolutely furious too — there's something especially awful about being hurt AND having someone try to flip the blame on you. Please make sure you're actually resting and not just pushing through the neck pain. That stuff can sneak up on you.
sharp-elk-1075/10/2026
Not doubting you, but a couple of questions that will definitely come up: Does the footage have a clear timestamp synced to actual time? And does it show the signal state for both directions — meaning can you clearly see his light was red, not just that yours was green? I've seen footage that seemed airtight until someone pointed out the light itself was off-frame. Just want to make sure you know exactly what you have before you lead with it.