Can I Use Traffic Camera Footage To Prove My Florida Car Accident Case?
No one wants to get into a car accident. Unfortunately, car accidents occur frequently. According to the FLHSMV, there were 389,453 traffic crashes in Florida in 2022. These crashes led to more than 3,000 deaths and over 248,000 injuries. Fortunately, those who get into car accidents because of the negligence of other drivers can hold the negligent drivers accountable and recover compensation. However, you need enough evidence to recover the compensation you deserve in a car accident case.
If you’ve been involved in a Florida car accident because of another driver’s negligence, you might be wondering if you can use traffic camera footage to prove negligence on the other driver’s part. So can you? Yes, you can. In fact, traffic camera footage is one of the most crucial pieces of evidence you can use in your Florida car accident case. However, acquiring traffic camera footage can be challenging. For this reason, it is crucial that if you’ve been involved in a Florida car accident and believe a traffic camera captured your accident, you reach out to a skilled car accident attorney for help.
How Can Traffic Camera Footage Help You?
Your words alone are not enough to prove negligence on the other driver’s part. Traffic camera footage can show a clearer picture of how your accident happened and help corroborate your story. Traffic camera footage can show what the other driver did or failed to do before your accident occurred. For example, traffic camera footage can show that the other driver ran through the intersection without pausing at the red light, thus meaning they ignored the road rules and failed to stop or yield to oncoming traffic.
It is vital to note that while traffic camera footage can be helpful, it can also work against you. However, even if the footage shows that you contributed to your accident, it does not mean you will be barred from recovering compensation. The state’s comparative negligence laws allow you to recover compensation from another negligent party even if you are partially to blame for your car accident. However, if you are partially to blame for your accident, your compensation will be reduced based on your percentage of fault.
Acquiring Traffic Camera Footage
As mentioned earlier, obtaining traffic camera footage can be a challenge. It is best to work with an attorney. If a government office manages the camera that captured your accident, your attorney can help you file a subpoena or another form of official request. And if a private organization manages the camera that captured your accident, your attorney can contact the company on your behalf and ask for the footage.
After asking for traffic camera footage, it can take time before you get a response. Also, some cameras write off footage after a short time. For these reasons, it is best to have a backup plan. The following are other options you can pursue with the help of your lawyer;
- Security camera footage
- Cell Phone camera footage
- Doorbell camera footage
- ATM camera footage
- Dashboard camera footage
Contact Us for Legal Help
Our Miami personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm can help you gather the evidence you need to win your car accident case. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Orlando, Ocala, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Fort Myers, Bradenton, and Fort Lauderdale areas.
Source:
flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/crash-dashboard/
