Traffic camera footage is the recorded video or photos captured by surveillance cameras mounted at various positions on roadways, intersections, or highways to monitor and control traffic flow and road safety.
Another benefit of traffic camera footage is that it can capture car accidents and show what happened before and after. So, if you are involved in an auto crash, you can use traffic camera footage as evidence to prove your claim. However, you must follow legal guidelines when obtaining the videos as evidence to make them admissible in court.
Read on to learn how to use camera footage to prove a claim and how to receive compensation for the damages of a car accident.
What Does a Traffic Camera Footage Do?
Traffic cameras are used on roads and highways to capture images of road users daily. You may encounter different types of traffic cameras when pursuing footage as evidence, such as the following:
- Red light cameras gather photos before, during, and after a car runs a red light.
- Traffic sensor cameras are placed on traffic lights or signals to help monitor and manage traffic.
- Speed cameras track and enforce speed limits in less-populated spaces.
- ANPR cameras are commonly found at junctions. They automatically scan and analyze a vehicle’s license plate numbers. If a driver commits a traffic violation, this device can track the car’s location.
Using a traffic camera poses several advantages, such as:
Improving Traffic Flow
Placing a surveillance camera on congested highways, freeways, interstates, and cities can provide essential information about the causes of poor traffic flow and how to solve this problem.
Enhancing Data Gathering
With information gathered about the most congested or risk-prone areas, local governments can develop and construct roads to solve these issues.
Preventing Traffic Violations
Most traffic cameras are installed to reduce traffic violations and crimes. In most cases, footage from traffic cameras is utilized as crucial evidence in auto accident investigations.
Additionally, drivers are more cautious when aware of traffic cameras nearby. This results in fewer traffic violations and higher chances of promoting safe driving habits.
Can I Get the Street Camera Footage of the Car Accident?
As it is legal in court, you may request the street camera footage of your accident from the local government or the private company responsible for storing those files. However, this process involves complex administrative tasks. There are also cases where you need to subpoena the record.
This is where having a personal injury lawyer becomes helpful. They will communicate with these agencies to obtain the street camera footage and use it as evidence to prove your claim.
How To Request Traffic Camera Footage in California
Knowing how to request traffic camera footage is essential, especially since this evidence can help prove your case. Requesting camera traffic footage may be complicated. The first thing you need to do is identify the company or entity handling the camera.
Cameras Owned By Private Companies
If a private surveillance camera catches your accident, you must request the footage from the private company with legal rights to it. In some instances, you will need to subpoena the footage in court.
Cameras Handled By the Local Government
In case you are hit at an intersection where there are traffic cameras available, you may do the following to obtain the camera footage:
- You should contact the Department of Transportation (DOT) or your local police department to verify which entity is responsible for the camera footage.
- Request and file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request form.
- You may also submit a written request stating the needed records via email, fax, or web form.
When Is Traffic Camera Footage Admissible in Court?
To be considered admissible in court, digital evidence, such as camera footage, must fit the criteria below:
- The video is appropriately preserved,
- It is authenticated,
- It follows the state’s digital evidence policies, and
- It must be applicable and relevant to the case.
If the footage fails to meet the requirements, it can’t be used as evidence in your car accident claim or trial.
What Other Evidence Can I Use to Prove My Case?
If you don’t have street camera footage of your car accident, there are other pieces of evidence you can use to claim compensation for the damages from the car accident, such as the following:
- photos of the accident scene, including the following:
- the damages from the crash,
- the surroundings during the accident,
- other possible evidence, such as skid marks.
- contact details and testimonies of witnesses,
- police report by the responding authorities,
- medical bills, and
- vehicle repair and replacement costs.
It may be physically impossible to gather evidence at the accident scene if you suffer severe injuries from the crash.
For instance, a drunk driver hits you in California. Since they were speeding, the impact was so significant that it caused severe leg injuries. You couldn’t move and gather evidence at the scene with such physical damage.
In such a case, it is best to contact a car accident injury lawyer in California who can investigate the facts of your accident, gather evidence, and build a strong case to prove the driver’s liability. This way, they can justify your claim and increase your chances of fair compensation.
Who Can Help Me Prove My Case?
The most crucial part of filing a car accident claim is proving liability. You may not be able to receive compensation for the damages if you can’t prove that the other driver’s negligence caused the collision.
What happens if you don’t have enough evidence to justify your claim? Without sufficient proof, such as a traffic camera footage, you may lose your case. When faced with this situation, you must shoulder all the damages and expenses independently.
This is when you will need a legal expert’s assistance. A personal injury lawyer has the expertise and resources to gather the evidence necessary to win your accident claim. In most cases, they have investigators who examine the accident scene when collecting proof for the claim.
Overall, a car accident lawyer can help you in the following ways:
- Building an Airtight Case – From police reports and medical records to witness statements and expert analysis, attorneys gather the hard-hitting evidence needed to prove fault and show the true impact of your injuries.
- Fighting for Every Dollar – Your losses go far beyond medical bills. Legal experts calculate everything: lost wages, future medical care, pain and suffering, and even reduced earning potential, so you’re not left struggling in the years ahead.
- Standing Up to Insurance Companies – Insurers count on you feeling overwhelmed. Lawyers push back hard, using undeniable evidence and legal expertise to demand the maximum compensation you deserve.
- Taking Your Case All the Way – If the insurance company won’t play fair, experienced attorneys will not back down. We’re prepared to take your case to court and fight for the justice you deserve.
At The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, we’ve helped thousands of accident victims in California rebuild their lives. Call us today at 800-333-0000 for a free consultation. You focus on healing, we’ll handle the rest.
Looking for an experienced car accident attorney near you? Contact us now for a free case evaluation and personal legal guidance.
What Our Clients Say About Us
While many personal injury lawyers may accept your case and build a legal defense, none will champion your cause as fiercely as we do. Our California car accident attorneys are exceptionally well-equipped to create a flawless claim, as affirmed by our previous clients:
“Everything was done beyond my expectations. Everyone who helped was extremely nice. I was expecting my case to take a lot longer than it did. It was great not having the stress of doing things myself. I would highly recommend calling if you need help. It’s worth it.” – Scott Oneil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Accidents may be upsetting and complicated, leaving everyone involved with questions about their rights, obligations, and legal alternatives. Understanding the aftermath of an accident is critical for safeguarding your rights and getting proper compensation, regardless of whether you are the driver, passenger, or pedestrian.
If you have further questions, we have answered some of the most often-asked concerns about road accidents.
- Can I Switch California Personal Injury Lawyers?
- Can I File a Claim if My Passenger’s Actions Lead to a Car Accident?
- Who is Liable for a Car Accident with an Unlicensed Driver?
- Parking Lot Accidents: Who Pays for Injuries Caused by Faulty Automatic Parking Gates?
References
The Benefits of Traffic Surveillance Cameras. (n.d.). wcctv. https://www.wcctv.com/the-benefits-of-traffic-surveillance-cameras/
