With more intersections, highways, and urban streets under constant surveillance, traffic cameras have become a common part of the modern driving experience. These devices may not be top of mind when you’re behind the wheel, but if you’re involved in a serious car accident, they might become key to your case.
Whether you’re pursuing compensation for injuries or defending yourself from an unfair accusation, understanding how camera footage plays into car accident claims may affect the outcome of your case.
Not all cameras on the road serve the same purpose, and knowing what kind of footage may exist can be helpful when building your case. Some of the most common traffic-related camera systems include:
One of the first questions after a crash is whether any video footage exists and how to obtain it. Unfortunately, accessing that footage isn’t always immediate or guaranteed, and timing is critical. Traffic and surveillance camera recordings are often kept for only a short window, sometimes just 24 to 72 hours, before they’re automatically overwritten. Acting quickly can make all the difference if you suspect a camera may have captured the accident. The process for accessing footage depends on who owns the camera. If it’s a government-operated traffic camera, a formal public records request will likely be required, which can take time to process. For footage from privately owned cameras, such as those on a business or home, you will need to contact the property owner directly or have your attorney step in. If law enforcement collected video during their investigation, your legal team might be able to access it through the discovery process during a claim or lawsuit. Because valuable video evidence can vanish quickly, many people choose to work with an attorney who can act fast and send a formal preservation request before it’s too late.
Traffic camera footage can be one of the most objective forms of evidence available after a car crash. Unlike eyewitnesses, it doesn’t forget details or get confused. However, that doesn’t mean it’s always straightforward. Footage may be especially helpful if it captures another driver running a red light or stop sign, confirms that you had the right of way, shows a vehicle speeding, tailgating, or driving erratically, documents the sequence of a multi-car crash, or proves your vehicle was hit while parked or stopped. At the same time, it’s important to remember that video evidence can also work against you. If the footage contradicts your version of events or shows actions that insurers or the court interpret as partially your fault, it could impact the compensation you receive.
While traffic camera footage can support your case, it can also complicate your claim depending on what it shows. For example, if the video suggests you were partially at fault, distracted, using your phone, speeding, or failed to stop when required, it could be used to reduce or deny your compensation. Even when the footage doesn’t tell the whole story, insurers may still use partial clips to question your credibility or shift blame. That’s why having an attorney who can interpret and properly contextualize the video is often a smart move. They can help ensure the footage is used accurately and fairly as part of your case.
In many cases, traffic camera footage is admissible in court and can serve as valuable evidence in both insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits. However, certain conditions must be met for the video to be accepted. The footage must be authentic, meaning it hasn’t been edited or tampered with, and it must be clearly relevant to the accident or injuries being discussed.
Additionally, courts may require proof of a proper chain of custody showing exactly how the video was obtained, stored, and transferred to ensure its integrity. Even if the footage doesn’t meet courtroom standards, it can still be a powerful tool during settlement negotiations. The possibility of clear video evidence showing who was at fault may push insurance companies to offer a faster or more favorable resolution.
While traffic cameras are public-facing, legal boundaries still exist when it comes to privacy and surveillance. Some states place restrictions on how certain footage can be used in civil cases, limiting its availability for personal injury claims. Accessing private security footage, such as from a business or home, may require the property owner’s consent, and recordings from inside vehicles, like a rideshare dashcam, can raise additional concerns depending on local laws around consent for audio or video recordings. Navigating these legal privacy issues can be complex, and having the right guidance can help. You don’t want to run the risk of unintentionally violating someone’s rights, or even overlook footage that could support your case.
Because time is limited and the legal process can be complex, working with a personal injury attorney can be especially valuable when it comes to securing and using video evidence.
Arthur Law Firm is experienced in gathering, reviewing, and using traffic camera footage to help build strong car accident cases. If you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault and believe video footage may support your claim, we can help. Contact us right away at (419) 782-9881 for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.