Can windshield camera be accessed after a crash?

This (braking) and other basic information about vehicle operation info is recorded in the Event Data Recorded whenever an airbag is deployed.

But camera video from PCS? No idea. But took to this thread:
Additional Data Recording for Prime | PriusChat

This paragraph is interesting:
"The recorded data varies according to the vehicle grade level and options with which it is equipped. These computers do not record conversations or sounds, and only record images outside of the vehicle in certain situations."

 

If trooper said it's the other driver's fault, then the police report will state so, and you should be fine. I doubt that the windshield camera will record video long enough (if it does record at all) for your purpose but I'm not certain. In fact I'm not sure that the lane departure uses camera at all - I don't see a lens.

BTW we bought dashcam for every car after 2 minor accidents (so we didn't call/wait for police) where the other driver admitted fault at the scene but later changed statement. It's sad that the moral values of a lot of people really won't hold up against just a few hundred dollars. Dashcam is definitely a very worthy investment.

 

+1

The most important thing is that YOU are OK.

Since this is a hull-loss accident without serious injury it's probably not going to matter that much whose fault it was - but it sounds like the investigating ossifer may (or may not) point a finger at the other driver.
Insurance companies look at how many accidents you're IN.....and THEN they start looking at how many of them are your fault.
That's why they don't even bother to ask, usually but rather they just want enough of your personal data to pull your records.

1. If they total the car, see if they will let you buy it back. You may be able to repair it with a salvage title (somebody will.....) and drive it for years, and many times the insurance company will cut you a deal so that they don't have to sell the hulk off to somebody else downmarket.

2. If they repair the car, see if you have a diminished value claim. Your car was worth 'X'. It's cost you 'Y'
Those are not equal....and many times a car with an accident in its pedigree is only worth about half of what a car with a "clean" title is worth.
In some states, this "diminished value" is actionable in small claims - or even with the assistance of some slimy, sniveling, ambulance chasing attorney...which is the same as saying.....an attorney.
You don't even have to shop around for a neck brace.

3. Primes still have some government kickback money this year. Other cars (i.e. Volt, T3, etc...) have MORE.
The kickbacks may be stackable.
You still have time to noodle that out.

Good Luck!

 

from page 362 of the owners manual:

"The pre-collision system is equipped with a sophisticated computer that will record certain data, such as: • Accelerator status • Brake status • Vehicle speed • Operation status of the pre-collision system functions • Information (such as the distance and relative speed between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead or other objects) • Images from the camera sensor (available only when the pre-collision braking function or the pre-collision brake assist function was operating"

so, the answer is *maybe*. it all depends if the radar decided you were going to get hit and slammed the breaks on for you (it might very well have which may have mitigated the accident). The real question is *HOW* can you get those pictures out of it... it's not at all clear. Probably best thing to do is to tell the police about the existence of those pictures and ask them to contact Toyota to get ahold of them. If there is a dispute over guilt it you may be able to get the police to pay Toyota to recover the images (doubtful but it's worth a shot).

The big question is if the cost to get them exceeds your insurance increase/deductible... (and then you're hoping that they captured something worthwhile).

That said, you can always file a criminal complaint of lying to the police and state that you have evidence (it may not prove it, so you may not be able to push the issue), but the simple fact that your car might have caught the other driver in a lie may be enough to make them tell the truth to risk a perjury trap.

 

Glad you are OK.

Question, do the police access the black boxes in cars that are in an accident?

I found this article about the black boxes in today's cars.

Your car's hidden 'black box' and how to keep it private

 

It's easy to push the wire between the headliner/A pillar and glass. Check out the dashcam thread.

As for the tax credit, you can get it for the 2nd Prime but you'll need a tax liability of $9,004 to get the whole amount. If you don't have that much, you'll get up to what your tax liability is back. Or your tax pro can help you with Roth conversions to make you owe more taxes.

 

I installed a dash cam this summer and was able to hide the power cable under the headliner, down the roof pillar, along the door sill, around the passengers seat and plugged it into the power port on the back of the center console. Only took ten minutes.

No one rides in my rear seat anyway.

The one I bought is voice activated.

 

In case readers didn't get it from two previous replies, let me repeat it a third time: no dangling cords needed, tuck it behind the headliner edges and A-pillar trims.

And use it all the time, not just on trips.

 

that's very interesting... That completely contradicts what the user manual says.

 

That's good.
Makes life much easier for you.

 

Indeed. As discussed in my previous posting (which also applies to the Prius Prime), Toyota’s owner and service information says the forward recognition camera can save images. Perhaps the Toyota representative meant that the camera doesn’t make video recordings like a dashcam would.

 

My camera records one minute clips and will take a picture by just saying,"Take a Picture" and it saves the picture.
The camera should be used all the time because most accident happen within 20 miles of home. Then there is the old joke about moving.

 

maybe... or maybe the rep had no idea and just assumed that it didn't and served that up as the answer. (I give equal likelihood to either possibility).

 

Um I'm sorry but if this serious incident didn't spur you into immediately planning on installing at least one dashcam in your next car to be used at all times then something is not right with you.

 

Glad to hear everyone was OK.

+1 on installing dash cam asap. I’ve got a dash cam in 3 of my 4 cars, the 4th is our workhorse Jeep and rarely gets used now.


iPad ?

 

Page 10 2020 prime manual:
Vehicle data recording:
The vehicle is equipped with sophisticated computers that will record certain
data, such as:
The recorded data varies according to the vehicle grade level and options
with which it is equipped
These computers do not record conversations or sounds, and only record
images outside of the vehicle in certain situations.
• Engine speed/Electric motor speed (traction motor speed)
• Accelerator status
• Brake status
• Vehicle speed
• Operation status of the driving assist systems, such as the ABS and precollision
system
• Images from the camera (available only when certain safety systems are
activated, which varies depending on the vehicle specifications).
• Hybrid battery (traction battery) status
● Data Transmission
Your vehicle may transmit the data recorded in these computers to Toyota
without notification to you.
● Data usage
Toyota may use the data recorded in these computers to diagnose malfunctions,
conduct research and development, and improve quality.
Toyota will not disclose the recorded data to a third party except:
• With the consent of the vehicle owner or with the consent of the lessee if
the vehicle is leased
• In response to an official request by the police, a court of law or a government
agency
• For use by Toyota in a lawsuit.
• For research purposes where the data is not tied to a specific vehicle or
vehicle owner
● Recorded image information can be erased by your Toyota dealer.
The image recording function can be disabled. However, if the function is
disabled, data from when the pre-collision system operates will not be available.
● To learn more about the vehicle data collected, used and shared by Toyota,
please visit http://www.toyota.com/privacyvts/.
If your Toyota has Safety Connect and if you have subscribed to those services,
please refer to the Safety Connect Telematics Subscription Service
Agreement for information on data collected and its usage.
To learn more about the vehicle data collected, used and shared by Toyota,
please visit http://www.toyota.com/privacyvts/.
Vehicle data recording
Usage of data collected through Safety Connect (U.S.mainland
only)
Page 11:
Event data recorder
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR). The main purpose
of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near crash-like situations,
such as an air bag deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist
in understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is designed to
record data related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period
of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record such data as:
• How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
• Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were buckled/fastened;
• How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator and/or brake
pedal; and,
• How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better understanding of the circumstances in
which crashes and injuries occur.
NOTE: EDR data are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions
and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash location) are
recorded. However, other parties, such as law enforcement, could combine
the EDR data with the type of personally identifying data routinely acquired
during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required, and access
to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer,
other parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special equipment, can
read the information if they have access to the vehicle or the EDR.
● Disclosure of the EDR data
Toyota will not disclose the data recorded in an EDR to a third party except
when:
• An agreement from the vehicle’s owner (or the lessee for a leased vehicle)
is obtained
• In response to an official request by the police, a court of law or a government
agency
• For use by Toyota in a lawsuit
However, if necessary, Toyota may:
• Use the data for research on vehicle safety performance
• Disclose the data to a third party for research purposes without disclosing
information about the specific vehicle or vehicle owner

 

I've heard good things about the the Fitcamx, which takes power from the mirror assembly and doesn't need a separate power line. It powers up when the car does. https://fitcamx.com/products/fitcamx-dash-cam-for-all-toyota?variant=40634549764268