“Can a Lawyer Get Footage of a Car Accident?”

Video recordings have a significant value in legal claims and are often used to decide cases. When it comes to car accidents, time is of the utmost essence.

Today, cameras are everywhere. From red lights to ATMs to privately owned businesses, these little eyes are everywhere, and anything and everything gets recorded. However, that does not mean you can get access to these recordings at your fingertips and at your convenience, especially when you’ve been involved in an automobile accident. 

You will likely be refused access to such recordings by the business owner at an establishment close to the scene of an accident or even by relevant authorities. Therefore it’s important to act with a sense of urgency in such scenarios because recordings tend to be erased from memory after a certain period of time to make space for new recordings. If you are injured in a car accident it is in your best interests to speak with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney who can request acccess to any accident footage that may exist.

Why Accident Footage Matters

Video footage from the accident scene could help determine if the other driver was speeding, driving between lanes, other motorists involved, whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and if the driver ran a red light. If a privately-owned business refuses to provide access to the recordings of their security cameras, your St. Louis car accident lawyer may issue a subpoena for the rights to the footage to prove your innocence and get you a fair settlement. 

Nowadays, there are no streets without red-light cameras. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), more than 50 percent of fatal collisions or accidents occur at or near intersections. This means that at least half of the time, there will possibly be some form of surveillance available to help determine liability.

Accessing Footage

If you notice a red-light near your crash site, you can ask your lawyer to request footage from the state. News companies often put up cameras at red lights to get traffic information and record accidents should they arise. Sometimes, footage may get captured by a police car dash camera if one is nearby, which can be requested again. Car accidents may also get captured by witnesses at the scene, in which case the footage can either be requested or procured by issuing a subpoena. 

There will be different procedures and regulations followed by each entity to release footage, and most will require a legal subpoena. If your personal injury lawyer can obtain video footage that clearly shows the other driver responsible for the collision, this piece of evidence will play a big role in convincing the other driver’s insurance company or a judge about the veracity of your claim.

It goes without saying that video recordings have a significant value in legal claims and are often used to decide cases. When it comes to car accidents, time is of the utmost essence. Ensure you reach out to a knowledgeable St. Louis car accident lawyer to secure the required footage that will determine the outcome of your case.