When seconds determine fault in a car accident, traffic camera footage can transform your personal injury case from uncertain to undeniable. This electronic evidence captures the exact moment of impact, vehicle movements, and traffic conditions that human memory might fail to recall accurately. For accident victims seeking justice, traffic camera footage may provide the crucial evidence needed to prove negligence and secure fair compensation.
If you’ve been injured in an accident and believe traffic camera footage exists, proving negligence in your personal injury case becomes significantly stronger with this objective evidence. The experienced attorneys at Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP understand how to locate, preserve, and present traffic camera footage effectively in personal injury claims. With over 65 years of experience handling complex accident cases, our team knows how to leverage this technology to build compelling cases for our clients.
How Traffic Camera Footage Strengthens Personal Injury Claims
Traffic camera footage serves as an impartial witness that never forgets details or changes its story. This digital evidence provides several advantages in personal injury cases that other forms of evidence cannot match.
The footage captures events in real-time, showing exactly what happened before, during, and after an accident. Unlike witness testimony, which can be influenced by shock, limited perspective, or fading memory, traffic cameras record objective facts. This evidence can reveal critical details such as which driver ran a red light, who failed to yield right-of-way, or whether someone was speeding or driving recklessly.
Traffic camera evidence also helps establish the sequence of events leading to the accident. The footage may show contributing factors such as weather conditions, visibility issues, or road hazards that played a role in causing the crash. This comprehensive view helps attorneys build stronger cases by demonstrating exactly how the accident occurred and who bears responsibility for economic and non-economic damages in Texas.
Types of Traffic Camera Evidence Available
Multiple sources of camera footage may exist, depending on where your accident occurred. Understanding these different types helps determine what evidence might be available for your case.
Government traffic cameras monitor major intersections, highways, and busy roadways throughout Texas. These cameras are typically positioned to capture traffic flow and violations, making them valuable sources of accident footage. Additionally, many businesses along roadways have security cameras that may have captured your accident, even if the cameras weren’t specifically aimed at the street.
Private Security Cameras
Private businesses such as gas stations, shopping centers, and restaurants often maintain exterior security cameras that capture street activity. These cameras may provide different angles or closer views of the accident than government traffic cameras.
Dashboard and Vehicle Cameras
Modern vehicles increasingly feature built-in dash cams and backup cameras that automatically record driving. These vehicle-mounted cameras can provide first-person perspectives of accidents, showing exactly what drivers could see leading up to the crash.
Mobile Phone and Social Media Evidence
Bystanders frequently record accident scenes with their phones, and this footage sometimes appears on social media platforms. While this evidence requires careful verification, it can provide valuable additional perspectives on the accident.
Securing this evidence quickly is essential, as many camera systems automatically overwrite footage after 30 to 90 days. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney ensures that preservation requests are sent promptly to all potential sources, especially when multiple parties are involved in your personal injury claim.
Challenges in Obtaining Traffic Camera Footage
Despite its value, obtaining traffic camera footage presents several obstacles that require legal knowledge and persistence to overcome. Understanding these challenges helps explain why professional legal assistance is crucial for securing this evidence.
Government agencies may require formal legal requests or court orders before releasing traffic camera footage. Privacy laws and administrative procedures can delay or complicate the process of obtaining this evidence. Some agencies charge fees for retrieving and copying footage, while others may claim the footage doesn’t exist or has already been destroyed.
Private businesses often hesitate to release security camera footage without legal compulsion, fearing liability or privacy concerns. Even when businesses cooperate, their camera systems may have limited storage capacity or poor image quality that affects the footage’s usefulness. Additionally, some cameras may not have been functioning properly at the time of the accident, or they may have been positioned in ways that didn’t capture the relevant area. Professional accident reconstructionists can support your personal injury claim by analyzing available footage and filling in gaps where camera coverage was incomplete.
Contact Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP for Your Personal Injury Case
Traffic camera footage can be the deciding factor in your personal injury case, but securing this evidence requires prompt action and legal knowledge. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP have been helping accident victims obtain crucial evidence and fight for fair compensation since 1959. As Austin’s oldest personal injury law firm, we have the resources and relationships needed to locate and preserve traffic camera footage before it disappears forever.
Our board-certified personal injury attorneys understand the urgency involved in evidence preservation and act quickly to protect your interests. With over $100 million recovered for our clients and a 98% success rate, we have the proven track record needed to handle complex accident cases involving multiple sources of evidence. Don’t let valuable traffic camera footage slip away while you focus on recovering from your injuries. Contact our experienced legal team today to discuss how we can help strengthen your personal injury case with compelling video evidence.
