Video cameras are commonly used in everyday life, whether it is for professional or residential monitoring. Most parking lots, stores, some objects, and even have cameras. While this may sound a bit daunting, it can prove beneficial in the case of a car accident claim. According to Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, in 2019 alone, there were 846 people who died due to someone running a red light. Video cameras are one of the best ways to prove a car accident case as it is usually clear evidence of a driver's negligence.
If you suffered injuries or losses resulting from a car accident, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys at Labrum Law Firm at (615) 338-9500 to learn more about how video camera footage may help you get the compensation you deserve.
Types of Cameras That Could Record a Car Accident
With such a variety of areas in which a video camera could be located, there is more potential for video camera footage in car accident claims to become evidence in a personal injury car accident case. Some of the locations a video camera could capture a car accident may include the following:
Street Light or Red Light Cameras
If a car accident happens at or near an intersection with a traffic signal, the incident may appear on video camera footage. Many traffic lights have a camera attached to catch drivers who do not stop at red lights. However, these video cameras may also capture car accidents, as well. In the State of Tennessee, the Office of Attorney General has specific policies that allow persons to request a review of footage of unmanned traffic cameras.
Business Security Cameras
The majority of business owners have a security camera monitoring their building. Consider asking nearby businesses whether or not they have security cameras that may have captured a car accident either in a nearby roadway, intersection, or parking lot.
Dashcam
A dashcam is like a silent witness. Dashcams are becoming more popular as the need for technology is in demand for many situations. Video recordings from dashcams may provide the evidence necessary to illustrate the other driver's negligence or recklessness that caused the car accident.
Doorbell Cameras or Other Residential Cameras
Doorbell cameras are now a major homeowner staple. Additionally, many homeowners also have residential cameras on their property. If your car accident occurred near a residence, the property owner may have video footage that would prove useful to your car accident case.
Witnesses
Many people have cell phones with them at all times. While it is not always probable, there may be the possibility that a witness to your car accident was able to capture the accident on their cell phone camera.
News Crews
If you are involved in severe enough of an accident, it is possible that news crews from local news stations may come out to cover the accident for their news station. While these videos will not ever capture the actual accident, they may prove beneficial later to showcase where the cars were after the accident occurred, or how witnesses and other drivers were acting after the car accident occurred.
How Can Video Footage Benefit a Case?
There are many ways that video camera footage in car accident claims can assist a victim in receiving the proof they need to obtain compensation for their injuries and losses from a negligent driver.
Determination of Liability
Every car accident case will require the victim to prove that the other driver was negligent in their actions and liable for the crash. When it comes to proving fault in a car accident, video evidence from authoritative and unbiased sources can prove helpful. In many cases, video footage becomes irrefutable evidence that a driver's negligence was the cause of the car accident. Even if a video does not directly show the entirety of the car accident, it can help supplement other evidence such as photographs, police reports, evidence taken from the scene of the accident, and the testimony of witnesses and experts.
Determining the Severity of a Car Accident
Insurance companies will always attempt to avoid paying full and fair compensation to a victim of a car accident. In many cases, they will use manipulative tactics in order to unfairly coerce a victim into accepting a lower settlement amount than they deserve under the law.
Having video camera footage in car accident claims allows a victim to showcase that their property was damaged, and their injuries were suffered, as a direct result of the insurance company's driver's negligence. Having this video footage can prove pivotal towards gaining a fair settlement offer from an insurance company.
How to Obtain Video Camera Footage
You can obtain video camera footage in different ways, depending on the owner of the footage. If a business owner or property resident has video footage of your accident or the aftermath of your accident, an experienced car accident attorney at Labrum Law Firm can issue a subpoena to request the footage as part of your car accident case.
If the video footage was from a state or city traffic camera, a personal injury attorney can issue a subpoena to the state or local city directly to obtain the footage necessary. While a victim has the legal right to request video footage from any owner regarding their car accident, it may prove easier to obtain if an experienced attorney can request those videos for you through legal channels, such as a spoliation letter or subpoena.
Learn How an Experienced Lawyer Can Help You
If you experienced a car accident, you may have substantial medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering to handle which can feel overwhelming. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Labrum Law Firm can conduct an independent investigation of your car accident and attempt to find any video camera footage available to use in your car accident claim. We can build a case on your behalf and negotiate with insurance companies so that you can receive the compensation you have a right to receive under the law. Contact our legal team to learn more about your legal rights and ensure they remain protected at (615) 338-9500.
