How do I Get Traffic Camera Footage after an Accident?
If you suffered injuries in a motor vehicle crash that resulted from someone else’s negligence, obtaining traffic camera footage can be extremely beneficial to your case. This is especially true if the at-fault driver’s insurance company is disputing fault or liability for the accident. Recorded video footage can show the positions of the vehicles involved, the colors of intersection traffic lights, and in some cases, the accident itself — and who caused it.
There are several ways that you may recover the video footage you need to prove the legal elements of your personal injury claim. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer in your area can send out a spoliation letter on your behalf and request the desired footage. Your attorney can then use this footage to place liability for the accident squarely on another driver. Finally, your Tustin car accident lawyer can help you prove damages so that you can recover the compensation you need for all of your accident-related injuries.
Types of Video Footage that You Can Acquire
There are several types of video footage that you may be able to obtain following a car accident in which you suffered injuries. The purpose of obtaining this footage is so that you can prove someone else was responsible for the accident, if the insurance company disputes fault.
First, you may be able to obtain footage from a residential camera. If a nearby business had a camera in place recording at the time of your accident, you could obtain that footage. Many traffic intersections also have working cameras in operation at certain hours of the day. Finally, you might be able to obtain footage from a police officer’s body cam.
How to Obtain the Video Footage You Need
There are several steps you can take to obtain the video footage you need. First, you should send a spoliation letter to the individual or business entity tha has the footage. A spoliation letter requires that the recipient preserve any video footage that they have in their possession. If they destroy the footage prior to trial, there could be consequences.
If you are trying to obtain traffic camera footage, you may need to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). You may also need to issue a subpoena.
Finally, if you are requesting body cam footage from a police officer, you may need to issue a subpoena for the police officer to testify in court. You could then play the video footage for the judge or jury and have the police officer authenticate it when they testify on the witness stand.
Talk to an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Your Area Today
To recover damages in a personal injury claim or lawsuit, the accident victim has the sole legal burden of proof. To prove the liability portion of your case, your lawyer can help you recover the video footage you need. Your lawyer can then pursue the monetary compensation you deserve to recover for your accident-related injuries.