If you were involved in a car accident, you will require as much evidence as possible when filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit. One of the most important pieces of evidence is any traffic camera or security camera footage that might have caught the incident. However, local municipalities usually require official documentation, such as a subpoena, before handing over any footage.
A Florida car accident lawyer from our firm can handle the bureaucracy involved in accessing traffic camera footage. They can also gather other forms of vital evidence to support your case.
Why Access Traffic Camera Footage?
You want to access traffic camera footage because it offers a clearer picture of what occurred during the incident. When there is no video evidence, it is your word against that of the other driver or entity. If there is video footage of the accident, your attorney can review that information to learn more about what occurred.
In some cases, the security or traffic camera footage you obtain is the only footage you will get. Moreover, it might be the only thing that can drive you closer to a settlement or convince a jury that you are blameless.
Can Motorists Access Traffic Camera Footage?
Generally, motorists cannot access traffic camera footage. Government offices that manage the cameras cannot release footage to just anyone. When you reach out to the local municipality, they may require a subpoena or another form of an official request before handing over the footage. This is something an attorney from our firm can handle on your behalf.
When your attorney reaches out to the local police department or government, they can obtain traffic camera footage through official channels, noting that they are investigating an accident that occurred.
Motorists are advised, however, to seek out other types of evidence at the time of the accident. You can:
- Take pictures and video of the scene to better detail what occurred
- Take statements from or get information for any eyewitnesses who saw the accident
- File a police report. You absolutely must call 911 and ask a police officer to write up a report. When there is an official record of the accident, the other driver cannot claim it never happened.
- Save receipts, phone records, and emails from that day that give an idea of your timeline and why you were in the place where the accident occurred.
An Attorney from Our Firm Can Help Access Traffic Camera Footage
When you file a personal injury claim and file a lawsuit to recover damages, evidence is everything. A lawyer from our firm can help access traffic camera footage. Local authorities generally do not allow the public access to such footage.
An attorney from our firm understands how to access traffic camera footage in Florida and how to build a case around that footage. Moreover, they know which local authorities to reach out to. This is critical because access to footage can often make or break the investigation into your accident.
How Long does Florida Maintain Traffic Camera Footage?
Every municipality in Florida sets its own rules and guidelines for retaining traffic camera footage. Some footage is recorded over in as little as 24 to 48 hours, while other locations might keep this footage for a few days or even weeks.
If you need to file a lawsuit, you cannot wait all that long. Florida imposes a four-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims under Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a) and a two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death claims under Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(d). You do not have that much time to collect critical video evidence.
What Happens If You Cannot Access Traffic Camera Footage?
Sometimes, there is no footage of your accident or the footage gets erased before you can access it. This can make it more difficult to prove the fault of another party, but other forms of evidence may be available. For example, eyewitness testimony and the police report can shed light on what happened.
In the absence of traffic camera footage, you may see an insurer or defense attorneys try to deny liability. The defendant may attempt to shift some of the blame on you, thereby decreasing any compensation you might receive.
This is why it is important to act quickly and seek help gathering evidence for your case. You deserve the best chance at recovering fair compensation for your injuries.
Seek Out Evidence As Soon As Possible With Our Help
You can reach out to the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine at 1-800-747-3733 for a free consultation if you were injured in a car accident. We can seek compensation and uncover the truth as quickly as possible. The evidence is there, and it could help when you file a claim or lawsuit.
