Agree on the dash cam, saved my ass twice now and are relatively inexpensive insofar as Jeep mods go, I have one in every vehicle I own and will put one in every vehicle going forward. Cheap peace of mind.
You don't need to pay for a subscription to do a dash cam.
If you want my recommendation as an ex-deputy, I use this one.
All you need is a micro-SD card (and something that can read them) and you're off to the races.
If you're on a tight budget, I recommend the RexingV1. I bought one back in May and it's perfect for what I need. I'm sure more expensive ones have more features, but if you're just looking for a camera with wide angle, audio, SOS saving, and readable license plates, this one is great.
IMO, pointless filing a police report without a license plate.
Please buy yourself a dash cam ASAP. They are invaluable in almost all driving environments, but particularly the Mad Max arena that is the greater Houston area.
Source: 17-year personal injury lawyer in Houston, and dash cam zealot.
I'm a personal injury lawyer in Houston, been doing it 17 years now. I've posted this many times, and will continue to.
OP is absolutely right. Everyone driving in Houston should have a dash cam. I have the Rexing V1 Basic which is $50 on Amazon. Never had a problem with it in years of use (including retrieving video of a crash I had with a HPD patrol unit).
Again: everyone driving in Houston should have a dash cam.
I wouldn’t go for a used dash cam, you can get similar prices for new cameras within the same price range. All of those cameras in the photo aren’t worth anything, especially used.
Here’s a basic Rexing V1 camera to get you started, it features a wedge design which is very discrete. It does have a lithium ion battery instead of a super capacitor which usually goes bad within a few years but at your budget, most if not all won’t have a super capacitor.
Came here to chant my same old chant. Anyone driving in Houston should have a dash cam. The Rexing V1 Basic is a good dash cam, $50 on Amazon. It plugs into a cigarette lighter or you can buy a kit to hardwire it to your fuse box or rear view mirror (you don't need to do this if the cigarette lighter power turns off when the car turns off). It uses a capacitor not a lithium ion battery, so it fares well in high temperatures.
Most people's collision deductible is $500, so even on a property damage only claim with no injuries, it can pay for itself easily if you're in a liability disputed crash.
Source: personal injury lawyer, motor vehicle crashes mainly.
Because of Reddit, I bought a cheap one, and don't even have the wires properly run.... I just have a suction cup mount, with the USB cable plugged into cig-lighter/power-port. Not the prettiest installation, but it's there.
Dash cams vary in price, anywhere from $30 to over $100.
that may seem expensive but the second it saves you from someone trying to blame you for something they did, you’ll immediately see how valuable they are. This is the one i use https://www.amazon.com/Rexing-V1-Basic-Recorder-Recording/dp/B07RLTXMWS/ref=sr\_1\_4?dchild=1&keywords=Rexing+v1&qid=1623441175&sr=8-4
if you didn’t have anything to do with an accident or situation, then its not your fault. I know our minds immediately start overanalyzing everything that happened wondering if we could have done different. But as long as you drive defensively and cautiously, you hopefully will never cause an accident.
be safe out there!
I would say save up and buy a good quality dash cam, you want something that could clearly read license plates, especially at night. And you want a dash cam that has a rear camera too, you are spending $120 to potentially save you paying thousands if some moron hits you and blames you or takes off.
If you still want something for around $50 get this
But I would recommend you save up and get at least this
I can highly recommend the Rexing V1, which is $50 on Amazon. I've had them in my vehicles for several years.
The "we are not responsible" placards they put on the back of the trucks are of no legal consequence. A company can't disclaim all liability for debris falling from their vehicle on a public roadway simply by slapping a sign on the back.
I think if you called the police non-emergency number, the probability of a law enforcement response is not zero, but it is very close to zero.
TXDoT has an online form you can use to "report an issue on the road." You could use that and, if you can identify the trucking company and truck, maybe they would be contacted.
IMO a more effective response would be to take a picture of the truck with your cell phone, then post a detailed review of the trucking company on Google along with the picture. That may be helpful in future instances when they damage someone else's vehicle.
Also, please get a dash cam for your vehicle. They are invaluable. I have this one, it has worked flawlessly for years, including when I was in a crash with an HPD patrol unit (his fault) in May. https://www.amazon.com/Rexing-V1-Basic-Recorder-Recording/dp/B07RLTXMWS
Even better
Rexing V1 Basic Dash Cam 1080P FHD DVR Car Driving Recorder, 2.4" LCD Screen 170°Wide Angle, G-Sensor, WDR, Parking Monitor, Loop Recording https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07RLTXMWS/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_PTFKR91TFJXBAYHNT76R
Rexing V1 Basic Dash Cam 1080P FHD DVR Car Driving Recorder, 2.4" LCD Screen 170°Wide Angle, G-Sensor, WDR, Parking Monitor, Loop Recording https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07RLTXMWS/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_PTFKR91TFJXBAYHNT76R
I use the Rexing V1 Basic, which is $50 on Amazon, link below. You'll also need a micro SD card, which is $10-$15. The Rexing uses a capacitor instead of a lithium ion battery, which makes it extremely heat tolerant. I leave mine attached to my windshield year round and I have not had a problem. The camera that recorded the crash with the HPD vehicle is a Rexing V1 Basic. IMO, a rear-facing camera, while nice, isn't particularly necessary. If you are caught up in a chain reaction collision and not the very front vehicle, a forward-facing cam will show that you did not hit the vehicle in front before being hit in the rear and pushed forward; order of impacts is the typical point of debate in chain reaction collisions.
Most people have a collision deductible of $500 on their auto policy. If you are in a disputed liability property damage only claim and have to file with your own insurer to resolve your property damage claim, there goes $500 and a bunch of your time jacking around with it. Or get a dash cam for $50.
https://www.amazon.com/Rexing-V1-Basic-Recorder-Recording/dp/B07RLTXMWS
I've used this model for years. Great in the Houston heat. https://www.amazon.com/Rexing-V1-Basic-Recorder-Recording/dp/B07RLTXMWS
If you don't already have one, please get a dash cam.
I have the Rexing V1 Basic, $50 on Amazon. Haven't had an issue with it, good choice for Houston's extreme heat. https://www.amazon.com/Rexing-V1-Basic-Recorder-Recording/dp/B07RLTXMWS
This is abnormal. Please buy a dash cam. This one is $50 on Amazon and is perfectly good.
This is what I have, when I bought it 4 years ago it was $100. Now the $100 model is 4k instead of 1080p. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RLTXMWS/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_CPTYEQQTRJG3C529ZFPW
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That one. I have the version that records front and back but it looks like that one is OOS.
Rexing 14 on Amazon 49.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RLTXMWS/ref=ox\_sc\_act\_title\_2?smid=A6UEJTLUY290N&psc=1
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Get a dashcam. Video doesn't lie.
Get the dashcam. Totally worth it. I've had a Rexing V1P for about 6 months now and I don't think I'll ever drive without one again.
The Rexing V1 Basic is $50 on Amazon, and the V1 is $100, and Amazon has a 20% off coupon right now to make it $80.