Thinkware Dashcam Settlement: Models and Claim by Dec 14
Thinkware agreed to an $850,000 settlement over Super Night Vision claims. Five dashcam models qualify. Claim by December 14, 2026; objections and opt-outs are due November 30
The $850,000 Thinkware settlement covers U.S. purchases of five Thinkware dash cam models made between January 25, 2019 and August 31, 2024, and the claim deadline is December 14, 2026.
The Thinkware dashcam settlement class covers U.S. purchases of Thinkware X700, F200PRO, F70PRO, DC-M2-FG and DC-M2-FG-IR dash cams from January 25, 2019 through August 31, 2024, subject to the exclusions in the court-authorized notice. File a claim at TWCameraSettlement.com or by mail by December 14, 2026. Payment is a pro rata share, which gets smaller as more people file. It is sent only after final approval, so the amount depends on how many claims come in.
The class action is Ratzak v. Thinkware Systems USA, Inc., filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Placer. It alleges that Thinkware advertised a Super Night Vision function on these dash cams without disclosing that the function was only available in parking mode. Thinkware denies any wrongdoing, and the court granted preliminary approval on August 12, 2026, with a final fairness hearing set for January 12, 2027.
Which Thinkware Dashcams Qualify and How to Claim
The Thinkware dashcam settlement covers every person in the United States who bought a Thinkware X700, F200PRO, F70PRO, DC-M2-FG or DC-M2-FG-IR dash cam between January 25, 2019 and August 31, 2024. Members of the court, Class Counsel, Thinkware, and Thinkware employees and agents are excluded. The class definition names only these five models.
| Situation | Covered? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bought one of the five models in the United States between Jan 25, 2019 and Aug 31, 2024 | Meets model and date criteria; exclusions apply | Claim deadline is December 14, 2026 |
| Bought one of the five models before Jan 25, 2019 or after Aug 31, 2024 | Outside the class definition | Purchases outside the class period do not qualify |
| Bought a Thinkware model that is not on the list of five | Outside the class definition | The class covers the X700, F200PRO, F70PRO, DC-M2-FG and DC-M2-FG-IR |
| Member of the court, Class Counsel, Thinkware employee or Thinkware agent | Not covered | Excluded by the Settlement Agreement |
| Claiming more than one camera without proof of purchase | Limited to one product | Two or more products require proof of purchase |
Filing takes a few steps, and the paper and online routes share the same deadline.
- Find the model name and serial number on the camera or its packaging.
- Find any receipt or order confirmation, which you need if you claim more than one camera.
- Read the court-authorized notice and the Settlement Agreement, the agreement also posted on TWCameraSettlement.com.
- Submit the Claim Form online at TWCameraSettlement.com, or print it and mail it to Thinkware Claims Administrator, P.O. Box 1349, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.
- Make sure the online form is submitted, or the paper form is mailed, by Monday, December 14, 2026.
Under the Settlement Agreement, proof of purchase, purchase location, purchase date and serial number are optional data for people who learned of the settlement through indirect notice. Without proof of purchase, you can claim one product. A claim for more than one product requires proof of purchase sent to the Claims Administrator.
Claims without proof are subject to fraud auditing, and claims flagged as fraudulent are rejected. The settlement's toll-free number is 1-888-614-5272. For the general steps that apply across settlements, read the guide on how to claim settlement money.
What the Lawsuit Says and What Thinkware Denies
The lawsuit alleges that Thinkware misrepresented and falsely advertised a Super Night Vision function on the F200PRO, X700, DC-M2-FG-IR, DC-M2-FG and F70PRO dashcams. It also alleges that Thinkware failed to disclose that the function was only available in parking mode. The case is Jessica Ratzak v. Thinkware Systems USA, Inc., Case No. S-CV-0049793, in the Superior Court of California, County of Placer. The Honorable Trisha J. Hirashima oversees it.
Jessica Ratzak is the class representative, and Thinkware Systems USA, Inc. is the defendant. Thinkware denies the allegations and any wrongdoing, and it agreed to settle to avoid further litigation. The court did not decide in favor of either side, and the notice does not imply that any court found Thinkware violated the law.
Thinkware Settlement Deadlines
The Thinkware settlement has two reader deadlines: November 30, 2026 for opt-outs and objections, and December 14, 2026 for claims.
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| August 12, 2026 | Court granted preliminary approval and appointed a settlement administrator |
| Monday, November 30, 2026 | Deadline to opt out (submitted electronically or postmarked) and to send a written objection |
| Monday, December 14, 2026 | Claim deadline, online or by mail |
| January 12, 2027, 8:30 a.m. | Final Fairness Hearing, Department 32 |
The Final Fairness Hearing takes place at the Hon. Howard G. Gibson Courthouse, 10820 Justice Center Dr., Roseville, CA 95678. At that hearing the court decides whether the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate, and whether to approve it. You do not have to attend, and because the date may change, check TWCameraSettlement.com before you plan around it.
The court's preliminary approval order defines the class and names the administrator.
Where the $850,000 Goes
Thinkware agreed to fund an $850,000 Settlement Fund that pays claims, attorneys' fees, costs, a service award and administration. All fees and costs are subject to court approval, and the $100,000 administration figure is an estimate.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Settlement Fund | $850,000 |
| Class Counsel attorneys' fees | Up to 33.33% of the fund, not to exceed $283,333.33 |
| Class Counsel actual costs | Up to $20,000 |
| Service award to the class representative | Up to $10,000 |
| Notice and administration costs | Anticipated not to exceed $100,000 |
| Total Distributable Settlement Fund if every cap is fully used | About $436,666.67 |
The Total Distributable Settlement Fund is the money left for class members after fees, litigation costs, administration and notice costs, and incentive awards come out. If the court awards less than the caps, more money stays in that pot.
The fund can also grow. The settlement assumed about 62,029 products were sold in the class period, and if confirmatory discovery shows more than 65,130 sold, Thinkware adds $6.70 for each product above 65,130. For example, 70,130 products sold would add 5,000 times $6.70, or $33,500.
Money that nobody claims goes to The Public Justice Foundation. Settlement checks expire after 180 days, and leftover funds from uncashed checks also go to Public Justice. The guide to unclaimed settlement money covers how leftover funds work in other cases.
A Thinkware claim pays a weighted pro rata share of the Total Distributable Settlement Fund, based on the number of valid claims and the mix of products claimed. Several facts are unknown today: how many people will claim, the product weights, the final amount of any payment, whether the court will approve the settlement, and the date payments will be sent. No money is available now, and the notice states there is no guarantee money will ever be distributed.
Claim, Object, Opt Out or Do Nothing
Each class member has four choices, and filing a claim by December 14, 2026 is the only one that can lead to a payment from the Thinkware settlement.
| Choice | Payment? | Right to Sue Thinkware on Your Own | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| File a claim | Pro rata share if the settlement is approved | Given up for the released claims | December 14, 2026 |
| Object | Yes, if you also file a valid claim | Given up, because you stay in the class | November 30, 2026 |
| Opt out | No payment | Kept | November 30, 2026 |
| Do nothing | No payment | Given up for the released claims | None |
To opt out, submit an Opt-Out Form on the settlement website or mail it to the Claims Administrator, electronically or postmarked by November 30, 2026. Opting out means no payment and no right to object.
A written objection goes to the Claims Administrator by November 30, 2026 and must include these items:
- The case name and number
- Your full name, address and telephone number
- Proof of purchase of qualifying products, such as receipts, if available
- The grounds for the objection and copies of supporting papers
- Whether you intend to appear at the hearing
- A declaration of any other class settlement objections you submitted in the previous five years
- The name of any attorney appearing for you
If you do nothing, you are bound by the settlement and the final judgment, and you forfeit your portion of the fund. The guide on how class action settlements work explains the release and approval stages.
For purchases within the class definition, a claim filed by December 14, 2026 is the only way to receive a payment. Payment is a weighted pro rata share of the money left after the agreement's caps, based on the number of valid claims and the mix of products claimed. That money is about $436,666.67 if every cap is fully used, and more if awards come in lower or the escalator applies. The amount any claimant receives is unknown, and nothing is paid before final approval.
Opting out is the only choice that keeps your right to sue on your own, and it means no payment. Objecting keeps you in the class and bound by the release, and you can still be paid if you also file a claim. The real number of claims and the product weights determine the payment, and Thinkware dashcam settlement claims are filed at TWCameraSettlement.com by December 14, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I file a Thinkware dashcam settlement claim?
Submit the Claim Form online at TWCameraSettlement.com, or print it and mail it to Thinkware Claims Administrator, P.O. Box 1349, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. The claim deadline is Monday, December 14, 2026. The settlement's toll-free number is 1-888-614-5272.
What proof do I need to claim a Thinkware settlement?
You can claim one dash cam without proof of purchase. A claim for more than one product requires proof of purchase sent to the Claims Administrator. Claims without proof are subject to fraud auditing, and claims flagged as fraudulent are rejected.
When is the Thinkware settlement claim deadline?
The claim deadline is Monday, December 14, 2026, online or by mail. Opt-outs and objections are due Monday, November 30, 2026. The Final Fairness Hearing is set for January 12, 2027.
When will Thinkware settlement payments be sent?
No payment date has been set. Payments are made only after the court grants final approval and the settlement reaches its Effective Date, and there is no guarantee money will ever be distributed. Payments go out by check or electronic payment.
Should I object, opt out or file a claim?
File a claim if you want money, because a valid claim is the only way to be paid. Object if you want to tell the court you disagree with the terms, and you can still be paid if you also filed a valid claim. Opt out only if you want to keep your right to sue Thinkware on your own, since opting out means no payment.
What happens if I do nothing?
You are bound by the settlement and give up the right to sue Thinkware on your own over the released claims. You also receive no money because you did not file a claim. Unclaimed funds go to The Public Justice Foundation.
Do I need my own lawyer?
No, you do not need your own lawyer. Class Counsel represents the class through Todd M. Friedman and Adrian R. Bacon. You may hire your own lawyer at your own expense.
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