A Guide for Obtaining Camera Footage for Your Florida Car Accident Case

For those who are injured in car accidents, video footage, whether from traffic, security, cell phone, or dashboard cameras could end up being the clearest and most objective proof of their right to compensation. Obtaining footage, however, especially traffic camera recording, after a car crash is rarely a straightforward process and often requires the help of an experienced attorney.

Types of Camera Footage 

Footage from a car accident could be available from a number of different sources, including:

• Traffic cameras operated by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), which oversees cameras across the state that provide live feed of traffic on highways and intersections;
• Red light cameras operated by the local police department or FDOT;
• Speed cameras, which can show accidents that occur in certain areas, like school zones;
• News agency traffic cameras;
• Business surveillance cameras, which often capture records in front of and behind their buildings;
• Cell phones with recordings taken by eyewitnesses who saw the accident occur; and
• Dashboard cameras from the vehicles involved in the accident.

The steps that a person needs to take to obtain a recording of his or her accident will depend on the type of camera in question as well as its ownership.

Contacting the Right Parties 

When attempting to obtain footage of a traffic accident, the first step that an accident victim will need to take is to contact the owner. This usually takes the form of an informal request, although a formal request may be required when a government agency is involved. Fortunately, an experienced lawyer will be well-versed in how to submit both informal and formal requests in a timely fashion. It may also be necessary to follow up on any requests for video footage of a crash. It’s important to note that these requests will need to be made soon after the accident, as many recording devices don’t save their footage for more than 30 days.

Compelling Disclosure 

If an individual, government agency, or business is unwilling to comply with an informal or voluntary request, then the claimant’s attorney may need to request a subpoena. If a claimant still faces a refusal to comply with a formal written request or subpoena, then his or her attorney may need to go to court and seek to compel disclosure of the footage in question with a legal order.

Speak with Our Experienced Tampa Auto Accident Attorneys Today 

If you were injured in a car accident in Florida, there’s a good chance that your collision was captured on some type of video recording. At Anderson & Anderson, our Tampa auto accident lawyers have been helping Florida crash victims seek compensation from the at-fault parties who caused their accidents for more than 40 years. This experience has given us unique insight into the best ways to go about collecting the kind of evidence that could prove definitive in a personal injury case. Call us at 813-251-0072 or reach out to us via online message to set up a meeting with our legal team today.

Sources: 

circuit19.org/sites/default/files/judges/Judge%20Waronicki/Guidelines%20Regarding%20Post-Accident%20Surveillance%20Video.pdf

scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=16966157717654384734&q=Holzendorf+v.+Star+Van+Sys.&hl=en&as_sdt=6,45