After an accident occurs, it can be an overwhelming whirl of chaos and adrenaline. Once the dust settles and shock has worn off, a new challenge presents itself: reconstructing what exactly occurred.
Witness accounts can often be unreliable, memories may fade over time and assigning blame can become an intricate dance. What if there was an objective way of witnessing events unfold – a way that would cut through confusion and bring to light what really happened?
Video evidence can be an invaluable asset following an accident. It provides a neutral perspective, documenting what transpired and providing key details that help assess fault and support any possible legal claims.
Imagine having access to clear visual evidence that supports your account of events or disproves inconsistencies in others’ statements. This guide equips you with knowledge and strategies of obtaining accident video evidence, changing the outcome in your favor.
1. Surveillance Cameras
Many public and private locations such as commercial buildings or even gas stations use surveillance cameras as a watchful eye on the scene. To find footage:
Locate Cameras
As part of securing video footage after a crash, if possible and safe, conduct an initial scan for any visible cameras in order to help narrow down your search later. This may allow you to save both time and energy when looking for cameras later.
Contact Nearby Establishments
After identifying potential locations with cameras, politely reach out to their owners or managers and explain the incident in question and ask if any surveillance footage may have captured it. Be prepared with details regarding date, time and place.
Government Agencies
Many traffic intersections and highways are monitored by cameras operated by government entities, so reach out to your local Department of Transportation or law enforcement agency to request any potential footage. They might have procedures in place for doing this.
2. Dashcams and Vehicle Cameras
Dashcams have become an increasingly common tool for recording footage while driving. Here’s how these can help:
- Footage from Involved Parties: If any of the parties involved had dashcam footage available, request it immediately and explain why this information is important to the incident investigation process. Be polite in doing this if possible!
- Witness Dashcams: Other drivers or bystanders might have captured footage from the accident on their dashcams, making them a viable asset in law enforcement investigations. When approaching potential witnesses with dashcams, be courteous and explain your situation before asking if they would share any footage they might possess.
- Insurance Companies: Your collision coverage might include access to dashcam footage from other involved parties in certain circumstances; therefore, it would be worthwhile contacting your representative about how best to obtain such footage.
3. Traffic Cameras
Traffic intersections and highways are monitored by government cameras that operate under state license, providing footage for public use.
Here’s how you can access that footage:
Locate the Camera Operator
Determine who manages traffic cameras in your area – this may include the Department of Transportation, local traffic authorities or even police departments.
Public Records Requests
Agencies often have processes in place for submitting public records requests, including footage from traffic cameras. You should research their process and submit a formal request with details on your accident as well as footage you require – taking note that fees or processing times might apply in addition to this request.
4. Additional Information Possessed by Government Agencies
Law enforcement and transportation departments may have information related to your accident in addition to traffic camera footage, which you can leverage using public records requests in order to access it.
- What Records Could Exist: Body cameras or traffic light recordings could capture details about an accident; therefore, researching local public records request procedures is essential for making your request for accessing surveillance footage for accidents.
- Submitting Your Request: Each agency may have a different form or portal for submitting public records requests. When making yours, be sure to clearly outline all details related to your accident – date, time, place and footage you require. Also be prepared for possible delays or fees associated with processing this request.
5. Social Media and Witnesses
Social Media Platforms
Searching social media platforms such as Twitter or Facebook might reveal posts from those who witnessed an accident and uploaded photos or videos, along with any relevant hashtags or location tags that pertain to its time and place of occurrence.
Reaching Out to Witnesses
If there are social media posts referring to your accident, reach out to those responsible in an amicable fashion and explain your situation to them; inquire if any footage may have been captured by them and inquire whether any footage could exist on their phones.
6. Legal Assistance
Formal Channels and Subpoenas
Legal representatives can navigate the complexities of obtaining footage through formal channels; in certain instances, subpoenas might need to be issued in order to compel private entities who refuse to release footage voluntarily to release it voluntarily.
Understanding Retention Policies
Since video footage may become outdated over time, your personal injury lawyer can assist in acting swiftly to assess and understand the retention policies of various organizations that might possess relevant footage.
7. Preservation of Evidence
Follow this process of retrieving accident videos to ensure any footage obtained is properly archived:
Document Your Efforts
Keep a detailed record of your efforts to acquire footage, including contacts made and notes about what came of them. Also take note of who you contacted on what date, their responses to inquiries made about this footage as well as any possible results of said inquiries.
Secure Digital Copies
If you receive footage on physical media like CD or flash drive, create a digital copy for safekeeping and store it either through cloud storage services or separate hard drives.
Establish and Maintain the Chain of Custody
If the footage becomes part of a legal case, it’s essential to establish and maintain a chain of custody in order to prove its integrity and assure no one tampered with its evidence. Your lawyer can advise on the best way for this.
8. Privacy Considerations
While having security footage is vitally important, respecting the privacy of others should also be prioritized:
Reducing Sensitive Information
If the footage contains identifiable details about bystanders or uninvolved parties, such as faces or license plates that could identify individuals, consider redacting these portions before sharing it publicly. Blurring may help.
Responsible Use
Footage should only be used for legitimate uses related to an accident and should never be shared publicly or on social media without valid reasons.
Final Thoughts
To sum it all up, by following these steps and being mindful of privacy concerns, you can significantly increase your odds of finding relevant video evidence that could assist with dealing with the aftermath of an accident.
