Posted on Tuesday, June 18th, 2024 at 9:00 am
According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, there were nearly 59,000 vehicle accidents on Utah roads in 2022, which resulted in 25,325 injuries. In 2024, there have been 34,344 vehicle accidents in the first half alone. If you suffered serious injuries in a car accident, you and your attorney need robust evidence linking your injuries to the crash and establishing another driver caused the collision. If available, video footage of the accident can offer some of the clearest and most compelling evidence of how the collision occurred. Don’t know how to obtain traffic camera video of a car accident?
For example, video footage can show if another driver acted negligently by speeding or running a red light. The footage can also document the weather conditions and give a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Knowing how to obtain traffic camera video of a car accident can significantly strengthen your case. A skilled Sandy and Provo car accident attorney at London Harker Injury Law can manage the process of gaining access to video camera footage. Follow our step-by-step guide and let our lawyers handle the formal request in traffic cameras typically for your personal injury case.
Utah Traffic Camera Laws
In some jurisdictions, state transportation departments and municipalities operate red light cameras, speed cameras, and other devices to capture footage of traffic violations and incidents. While the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) operates traffic cameras, they aren’t used to record footage. Instead, their primary function is to monitor traffic conditions using live-streaming traffic cameras. For this reason, UDOT cameras will not provide the evidence you need for your car accident claim.
Further complicating matters is the fact that Utah law generally prohibits the use of photo radar to monitor and record speed except in specific circumstances, and only via vehicle-mounted devices. In other words, while law enforcement officers with devices mounted in their vehicles may use them to capture vehicle speeds, Utah does not allow speed and red light cameras to be mounted on traffic lights.
Practically speaking, the odds of your being able to recover video footage from the Utah government are non-existent. And while it’s theoretically possible that an officer could have captured evidence of a driver speeding at the moment of an accident or just prior, the odds are probably not in your favor.
Other Sources of Traffic Video Footage
The good news, though, is that your attorney may be able to explore alternative sources of video footage of your car accident. Use other methods of obtaining surveillance, such as:
- Surveillance cameras from nearby businesses, such as gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants, are often positioned to capture street activity and may have recorded the incident.
- Dashcams, which are becoming increasingly popular among drivers, provide firsthand footage from the perspective of the involved vehicles.
- Bystanders and other drivers might have recorded the accident on their smartphones.
- Public transportation vehicles, like buses, often have onboard cameras that could have captured the event from a different angle.
- Security cameras from residential properties close to the accident site might also offer valuable footage.
It’s crucial to approach these sources respectfully because you’re seeking permission to access private recordings. Your attorney will work hard to ensure proper handling of the video evidence and adherence to privacy laws. Keep in mind, too, that this footage will not exist in perpetuity, which means it’s essential to act as soon as possible after the accident to pursue footage from all possible sources.
Steps to Obtain Traffic Camera Footage
Don’t know how to obtain traffic camera video of a car accident? The first step in obtaining a video that might support your car accident claim is to identify potential sources by canvassing the area around the accident site, noting any businesses, homes, and public transportation routes. Look for visible cameras and consider the likely range and angle of their coverage.
Next, your attorney will politely approach the owners or managers of these establishments by requesting surveillance footage after accidents. They’ll explain your situation and why the footage is important, and provide details about the accident, such as the date, time, and specific location, to help them locate the relevant footage. Showing official identification and documentation related to your claim and offering to reimburse any costs associated with retrieving and providing the footage can go a long way toward earning their trust and cooperation.
If you have contact information for any bystanders or other drivers who may have recorded the incident, ask them directly for their videos, ensuring you respect their privacy and willingness to share. Be courteous and explain how their footage can aid in resolving the situation.
When dealing with public transportation authorities and police departments, contact their customer service or legal department to request footage. Follow their specific procedures and provide necessary details and documentation.
Any time you need to access private recordings, be sure to seek permission and comply with privacy laws. Respecting privacy concerns and being aware of any local regulations that may affect your ability to obtain and use the footage can help ensure any evidence you recover will be usable in your claim and, if necessary, admissible in court.
Preserving Video Footage
Proper handling and preservation of video footage is necessary for your attorney to be able to use it in your car accident claim. First, your lawyer will take all necessary steps to document that the footage was obtained legally and with permission. Next, they will create multiple copies to prevent loss, damage, or tampering, and document the chain of custody by noting who has access, handled, and viewed the footage at any given time. They will comply with all legal standards regarding the preparation and handling of the evidence. This is done so it can be used at all stages of your claim or court case.
Contact a Utah Car Accident Lawyer Today
Still unsure of how to obtain traffic camera video of a car accident? After a car accident, you need all the evidence you can gather to identify the at-fault driver, establish their liability, and hold them to account for your injuries and losses. Footage of the accident, if it exists, can be critical evidence in your claim, but you need an experienced Sandy and Provo car accident attorney who knows how to get traffic camera footage and analyze it.
London Harker Injury Law provides comprehensive legal representation to people injured in motor vehicle collisions with our experienced attorneys. Our law firm has the experience and resources to gather the evidence necessary to build a strong claim. Using video footage, we will fight to recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or call 77CARCRASH today to get started with a free case evaluation and free consultations.
