To recover damages for injuries sustained in a car accident, victims in Pinellas may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. If your medical expenses cost more than your insurance limits, a personal injury lawsuit may be the best way forward. However, you will need to gather strong evidence to prove that the other party caused your injuries.
CCTV footage and footage from traffic cameras are among the strongest evidence you can use to prove fault in a car accident claim. In recent years, the footage from some of these cameras has been used and recorded by private companies. This makes it a lot easier for victims of car accidents to get evidentiary evidence proving that another driver caused their injuries.
Pinellas Personal Injury Lawyers at The Law Place
If you were involved in a car accident in Pinellas County, contact The Law Place today. Our team of highly experienced injury lawyers can help you build a strong injury claim and recover the compensation you deserve. We have unique experience obtaining car accident footage from CCTV and traffic cameras, and we have used this as powerful evidence in many injury cases.
Our law firm specializes in providing top-quality legal assistance to all of our clients, and our priority is getting you the compensation you deserve. With consistently high AVVO ratings and numerous awards, The Law Place is a firm that you can trust to get you a positive result.
Call our law firm today at (941)-444-4444 to schedule a free consultation.
Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Pinellas
Florida is renowned for having some of the most dangerous roads and intersections in the country. Pinellas County is one of the most dangerous areas in the country for cyclists and pedestrians. Local drivers should take care while driving on all roads and intersections to prevent accidents, particularly in these areas:
- US-19.
- Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard.
- South Belcher Road.
- Interstate 4.
- US-19 and Curlew Road in Dunedin.
It is more common for a deadly crash to happen on these roads and intersections than on others throughout the county. However, a car accident can happen on any road in Pinellas. If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, contact an attorney from The Law Place immediately.
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Camera Footage of a Car Accident
The roads in Pinellas County are monitored by CCTV and traffic cameras, including cameras at intersections, highway cameras, and red-light cameras. Local governments set most of these cameras up. However, the Florida government does not want to pay for storing the data obtained through these cameras. As a result, the data is not backed up by a government body.
Regular citizens can access a 24-hour live stream of certain intersections and roads in Pinellas County through public sites, such as WeatherBug.com. Because the government in Florida does not back up and control this data, it is also available to private companies who have started using it for their own purposes.
Because of this, the data streamed through traffic cameras and CCTV footage is often stored by companies for a certain amount of time. This data can then become available to people involved in car accidents in Pinellas County if they request the video footage from the company.
So, if there was a camera on the road or intersection where the accident happened, there may be video footage available proving that the other party caused the incident. Evidence obtained through these data companies can be used in your car accident claim and can be hugely beneficial when trying to prove fault.
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Obtaining Video Footage of Car Accidents in Pinellas
To get video footage of your car accident, you will need the help of an experienced attorney. It is important to note that video footage will not be available in all cases as it depends on whether there was a camera at the scene, whether there was a company retaining this data, and the length of time they keep the footage.
With the help of an experienced attorney, you can submit a video request to the Traffic Department and the company holding the data. If your accident was within the vicinity of a business, there may also be CCTV footage available from the building. Your lawyer may also submit a video request subpoena to local Pinellas police if there were any police cameras at the scene.
Your attorney must act fast to secure this video evidence. Most companies and public bodies have no reason to store this data for a long time. As a result, the footage is often recorded over or deleted within 30 days or even 72 hours in some cases.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers.
Benefits of Camera Footage in Car Accident Cases
Video footage of a car accident is the strongest type of evidence you can have in a personal injury claim. When trying to recover damages from another person, you must prove that they were at fault for the accident. However, if you do not have video evidence, it is often your word against theirs. You may have other evidence which can be helpful, including witness testimony and photographic evidence.
However, if you have camera footage that shows exactly what happens, you are more likely to win your case. If the Judge can see that the other driver broke a red light and crashed into the side of your vehicle, for example, they are more likely to award damages in your case.
Camera footage of an accident, unlike witness statements, does not make judgment errors. It gives everyone involved in the case a clear idea of what happened and leaves little room for dispute on behalf of the other party.
If the other party is clearly at fault, having camera footage of your car accident can make the case go a lot smoother and help ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
CCTV of Car Accidents FAQ
Do I Need a Lawyer to Get Camera Footage of My Accident?
Having a lawyer will make getting camera footage of your car accident a lot easier. There are no written laws explaining how to recover video footage to use in car accident cases. Lawyers that have dealt with many accident cases will know the procedures for obtaining video evidence and can submit a video request form to the company or the state body.
Although it may be possible to get camera footage alone in some cases, we strongly advise seeking legal guidance from an attorney. It will be almost impossible to get traffic light footage at intersections or red lights without the help of an attorney.
Is CCTV Footage Available in Deadly Crash Cases?
Although there are serious privacy concerns for CCTV footage involving a deadly crash, it may still be possible to get this footage for your accident claim. If somebody you loved lost their life because of another person’s negligent or reckless driving, you may be able to obtain footage to help your case.
Your lawyer can submit a video request to the company that recorded the footage or with the Traffic Administration.
Can I Get Highway Footage of a Car Accident?
If highway footage is recorded and stored by a private company or state agency, you may be able to get this footage. Your lawyer must submit a video request on your behalf to obtain the data.
IIs a Private Business Required to Give Me Car Accident Footage?
Some business owners may refuse to hand up CCTV footage to be used in a personal injury case. However, your lawyer could get a court order requiring them to do so if there is direct footage of the accident on the videotape., and the Judge deems it necessary to the case.
With a court order, a private business owner must give up the footage or they could face consequences from the court.
Do I Need Video Evidence to Win a Personal Injury Claim?
Video evidence is not required to win a personal injury claim. However, this evidence is extremely strong. If you have camera footage of the car accident happening, which clearly shows that the other party was at fault, you are more likely to win your personal injury claim.
For How Long Is Camera Footage Stored?
There are no specific laws for how long video footage from traffic cameras should be stored. If the footage is with a private company, it could be stored for up to thirty days or longer. However, some companies may delete their data after 24 hours, depending on company policy. The sooner you can request the footage, the better.
Is Dashcam Footage as Strong as Traffic Camera Footage?
Dashcam footage is video recorded from a camera on somebody’s car dashboard. If this footage is clear and plainly shows which party was at fault, then it could be as strong as traffic camera footage. However, if it only shows the accident from one perspective and does not give an objective view, it may not be as strong as traffic camera footage.
Find Video of Your Car Accident in Pinellas – Contact The Law Place Today!
Video evidence of your car accident could be the difference between recovering compensation or having to pay for your medical bills alone. Camera footage is the strongest type of evidence you can have in a car accident claim, once it proves that the other party was at fault. If there is camera evidence available in your case, your lawyer should do everything in their power to obtain it.
At The Law Place, our personal injury lawyers have handled hundreds of car accident claims. We understand the importance of video evidence and if it is available in your case, we will do everything we can to get it. Whether the evidence is through traffic cameras, red-light cameras, or tollbooth cameras, our lawyers will fight to get it and use it in your case.
The Law Place has a team of fierce personal injury advocates who are ready to help you in any way we can. Our top priority is helping you get compensation for your injuries and any pain and suffering that you have endured. Our Pinellas car accident lawyers have the experience and skills necessary to build a strong personal injury claim on your behalf, negotiate to get a fair settlement, and fight aggressively in a Pinellas court.
To ensure you get the best outcome possible, call The Law Place today at (941)-444-4444.
