How to Obtain Traffic Camera Video of Your Car Accident

If you’re involved in a car accident that results in injuries or extensive property damage, having video of the crash could be crucial. Video evidence can help authorities and attorneys determine what happened and who was responsible for the collision.

If liability is disputed and you need to prove fault in court, you might need to obtain a copy of any footage from nearby traffic cameras.

The Dallas car accident lawyers at Tate Law Offices, P.C., have extensive experience helping people who’ve been hurt in car accidents collect the evidence they need to prove their claim and seek compensation for the harm they’ve suffered.

We’ve provided the following general information to help you understand the basics of how to get traffic camera video should you need it. Our attorneys will be standing by to assist you with every aspect of your claim when you need us.

How Many Accidents Happen Near Traffic Cameras in Texas?

More than 50 percent of injury and fatal collisions occur at or near intersections, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This means that at least half of the time, there will possibly be some form of surveillance available to help determine liability.

Different entities could be responsible for the cameras, however, so it is vital to determine who owns and operates the camera.

While some video evidence will come from official traffic cameras, keep in mind that other forms of video evidence might also exist in the form of private surveillance cameras or dashcams in vehicles.

Examples of potential sources of traffic camera video include:

Obtaining the video evidence can be challenging in some cases. Read more below to learn how to secure it when necessary.

How Do I Get a Traffic Camera Video for My Accident?

Because different entities might own and control the cameras that have footage of the crash, getting a hold of it can be challenging. Even determining whether there was video of the crash can be difficult. You’ll want to hire an experienced car accident lawyer to assist you in securing this crucial evidence for your case.

If the accident was captured by a traffic cam or highway cam at an intersection, the camera could be owned by a public entity like the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), a municipal government, or a private contractor or company.

Each entity will have different procedures and regulations to follow when releasing footage, and most will require a legal subpoena.

While it is possible that you could simply request a copy of the video, most companies will refuse to release any footage unless compelled by the court. An experienced injury attorney will know how to obtain a subpoena for the video and use it as crucial evidence when building your case.

You can help your case by taking note of any nearby traffic cameras or other surveillance cameras that might have captured the events of the crash. Tell your attorney of any cameras you saw, and they can help collect the footage for you.

If a camera owned by a private business or individual – like a closed-circuit security camera or dashcam – captured footage of your crash, your lawyer could also assist you in retrieving copies of that footage as well. Again, it might be challenging to convince private entities to release the footage, but with some legwork and convincing, it is likely that your attorney will be able to secure it.

How Long Are Traffic Camera Recordings Available?

After any accident, time is limited to secure a copy of the video footage. Because each company has different rules regarding the destruction or overwriting of its video data, you should take swift action to get a copy before it is too late.

People who’ve been hurt will usually need to focus on treatment and recovery in the hours, days, and weeks or longer after the crash, so it is vital to hire an injury attorney to handle the investigation and recovery of video footage immediately.

We recommend that you contact a lawyer as soon as possible after a crash so they can get to work immediately. Because obtaining a subpoena and navigating the bureaucratic red tape at these organizations can take some time, you’ll want to make sure your attorney is on the case right away before the footage is destroyed or lost.

How Can a Traffic Camera Recording Help My Dallas-Ft Worth Car Accident Claim?

If liability for a car accident is disputed, video evidence could be crucial to proving your claim. When no camera footage exists, drivers might blame one another or try to shift blame elsewhere for the crash. Your attorney will have to examine the scene and the points of collision to try to determine who was at fault, and might need to count on eyewitness statements, cell phone records, and other forms of evidence to piece together what happened.

If your lawyer can obtain clear video footage that shows the other driver was responsible for the crash, it will go a long way in convincing the other party’s insurance company or a judge and jury that you were not at fault and that you are owed compensation as a result.

Contact Tate Law Offices for Help Obtaining Footage of Your Car Accident

Were you hurt in a collision at an intersection in Dallas or anywhere else in Texas? If so, video evidence might exist, and the skilled Dallas-Fort Worth car accident lawyers of Tate Law Offices will be ready to help you secure it. We know how to handle these cases the right way, and we’ll do everything in our power to obtain all of the crucial evidence that will help you win the compensation you deserve.

Because time is limited to secure camera footage, be sure to contact us immediately for help if you’re involved in a crash. We can be reached by phone or through our contact forms or live chat on our site. There’s never any upfront fee for our investigation or representation. We are only paid if we win money for you.