Our Houston Metro Car Accident Lawyer Can Help Obtain Traffic Camera Footage
If you've been in a car accident, securing traffic camera footage could make a huge difference in proving your case. Such footage provides a fair and clear look at the incident, capturing the exact moment and painting a precise picture of the truth. Yet the process of obtaining the footage can be overwhelming and stressful, especially when you're already dealing with the physical and emotional impact of the accident. Having a compassionate Houston metro car accident lawyer at SJ Injury Attorneys by your side can be invaluable. Our lawyers can help ease your burden, taking care of the legal details so you can focus on healing and moving forward.
The Importance of Traffic Camera Footage
Traffic camera footage gives an objective, unbiased account of what occurred during an accident. This type of visual evidence is important for:
- Establishing fault. Camera footage can help determine liability by clearly showing which driver violated traffic laws, such as running a stop sign or red light or acting negligently.
- Verifying your version of events. If there's a dispute about how the accident occurred, video evidence can support your account and provide a timeline of events.
- Capturing details you may have missed. You might not have noticed every detail in the chaos and stress of an accident. Camera footage can provide details you may have missed.
- Documenting road and weather conditions. Factors such as road or weather conditions at the time of the crash can play a significant role in determining liability.
- Identifying witnesses. Footage might show bystanders or other drivers who witnessed the accident but left before providing contact information.
- Capture hit-and-run incidents. In cases where the at-fault driver fled the scene, traffic camera footage can be used to help identify them.
How to Obtain Traffic Camera Footage
Getting traffic camera footage is important for your claim, but you need to act fast. Here's what to do:
- Don’t delay. Many traffic cameras only store footage for a limited time. It's crucial to begin the process immediately after your accident while the footage is available.
- Determine which cameras might have captured your accident. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) provides a map of traffic cameras in the Houston area. Additionally, there may be private businesses with security cameras close to the accident scene. You can check for nearby businesses such as gas stations, restaurants, and stores.
- Provide specific details when requesting footage, such as the exact date, time, and location of your accident. The more precise you are, the easier it will be for officials to locate the relevant footage.
- Be prepared to pay. There might be costs for getting the footage.
How Our Houston Metro Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
While you can attempt to obtain traffic camera footage on your own, our experienced car accident lawyer can significantly improve your chances of getting it.
A car accident lawyer can often obtain the footage more easily, even if your request is initially denied. They can also send a spoliation letter to the business or government entity to ensure the footage isn't deleted or overwritten.
Once they have the footage, they will observe it closely and use it to support your case. They can call on expert witnesses, such as accident reconstruction specialists, to further analyze the footage. Your lawyer can use the footage to strengthen your insurance claim. If your case goes to court, video evidence can be compelling to a judge or jury.
It’s important to act fast not only to get that footage but also to avoid missing the window of time during which you can seek legal compensation. In Texas, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim so you can recover damages. If you do not act within the required statute of limitations, the court will most likely dismiss your case. Your lawyer can ensure your claim is filed correctly and within the proper time frame. If you've been in an accident, don't hesitate to seek legal assistance from the car accident lawyers at SJ Injury Attorneys to ensure all available evidence is gathered to support your case.