How To Request Security Camera Footage of an Accident

You or your lawyer can request security camera footage of an accident by promptly contacting the property owner or business that controls the cameras and submitting a written request before the footage is overwritten.

When you are hurt in a car accident, you may be suffering, overwhelmed, and unsure how to prove your car accident case. Recovery can be difficult, and you may not immediately have the tools you need. Fortunately, experienced attorneys know how to request security camera footage of an accident.

Our Atlanta car accident lawyers are here to make recovery easy, including helping you through steps like requesting security camera footage of an accident. Talk to our skilled team about your options today after a motor vehicle accident in Georgia.

What Can Security Footage Do for My Car Accident Claim?

Security camera footage can be a powerful tool in a car accident claim, providing clear, objective evidence of how the accident occurred and who may be at fault. This type of evidence can strengthen your legal case, speed up settlements, and even protect you from false claims.

Key ways security footage can help include:

• Prove fault: Shows exactly how the accident happened, helping determine liability.
• Refute false claims: Protects you if the other party exaggerates injuries or damages.
• Support insurance claims: Provides insurance companies with clear evidence, reducing disputes.
• Document vehicle damage: Captures the impact and extent of damage to your car.
• Preserve evidence: Ensures important details are saved before they are lost or deleted.
• Assist in legal proceedings: Serves as credible, visual proof in court if needed.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it’s important to contact an Atlanta car wreck lawyer as soon as possible to help secure crucial evidence like security footage and protect your claim.

What Kinds of Security Camera Footage Can I Use?

When requesting security camera footage, remember that several potential footage sources exist. People may be filming at any time, and you may be able to use that footage to your advantage.

Below are some examples of security camera footage you may be able to use to help bolster your car accident claim:

• Police security cameras
• Dash cams
• Property surveillance cameras
• Traffic cameras
• Parking lot cameras
• Bystander footage
• Cameras on traffic signals
• Speed cameras
• Red-light cameras

Unsure where to start? Talk to a knowledgeable lawyer from our firm about your car accident and get the help you need to identify sources of video evidence and use that evidence for your claim. Your personal injury attorney can help you identify and use these sources to support your claim.

Determine Which Cameras Caught the Accident

Determining which business or traffic cameras caught the accident is one of your first steps toward getting the footage. It can be difficult to ask if you are unsure whether your accident was caught on film.

Sometimes, the first step for you and your car or truck accident lawyer in Atlanta is to return to the accident scene. Your lawyer can investigate the area and identify any cameras that may have caught footage of the accident.

Remember that not all these cameras captured your accident. Technical difficulties and wrong angles can make it difficult to get the footage you need. Fortunately, your large truck accident lawyer can identify the most likely options and help you get that footage.

Identify the Camera Owners

Once you have identified which traffic cameras will most likely have captured your accident, your next step is to identify the camera owners.

The person responsible for the camera is typically the property owner. The property owner is often the landlord or store owner trying to protect their wares and customers. Other alternatives exist, such as traffic cameras placed by a government agency.

Talk to your Atlanta personal injury lawyer about who is most likely the owner of the cameras facing your accident.

How Do I Ask for Security Camera Footage?

When you need security camera footage after an accident, acting quickly and knowing the right approach can make all the difference, whether you start with a simple, informal request or move on to a formal legal process to secure the video evidence before it’s lost.

Make an Informal Request for the Footage

Once you identify the camera owners, you must get copies of the footage. Sometimes, this footage is deleted over time to make room for new surveillance footage, so be sure you act quickly to get yours.

You can make an informal request. This option is simply asking for a copy of the footage they captured. In many cases, they may be willing to help. Unfortunately, some may not be so kind.

File a Formal Request for the Surveillance Footage

While the camera owner may not want to cooperate, you are not out of options if they say no. In these cases, you may be able to file a formal request for the footage instead.

This request is also known as a subpoena, where another individual is requested to bring evidence or testimony, like the surveillance footage, into court. If this camera captured the information you are looking for, this may be your best option for getting the evidence you need in court.

Can Insurance Request Camera Surveillance Footage in Georgia?

Yes, insurance companies in Georgia can request security camera footage, but they cannot require a property owner or business to release it without a subpoena.

Many businesses cooperate voluntarily, especially if the request is made quickly before the footage is deleted, but owners are not legally obligated to comply. If the surveillance footage is essential to proving fault, the insurer or an attorney may need to pursue a formal legal request to ensure the evidence is preserved.

For guidance through this process, you can contact John Foy & Associates to help you access crucial evidence like traffic camera footage. Their team can step in quickly to protect and secure the proof needed for your claim.

Using Security Camera Footage for Your Insurance Claim

When another person is careless with your safety, and that carelessness severely injures you, you need all the evidence you can gather to get compensated fairly. You need tools and resources that prove the accident happened as you say it did.

Using security camera footage can make proving your accident happened the way you say it did easier. This footage came from an impartial source, meaning it is more trustworthy and more likely to simply show the facts. Clear video footage can prove a lot in court.

This footage can also be used by reconstructionists, who may use this footage to reconstruct what happened during your accident. This step can help determine who is at fault for your accident.

Act Swiftly to Get Your Surveillance Camera Footage on Time

Remember that getting the needed traffic camera footage is not always quick and easy. Getting the video footage may take time, and you may need help getting it during the time limits of your lawsuit. When filing a lawsuit, you only have a limited time to act before being barred from compensation.

If you do not act within this time period, you may lose your chance at compensation. That time period for Georgia is only two years. That limits your time, and if you are already pushing that time limit, waiting for the video footage can be stressful.

That is why it is so important to act swiftly with the guidance of a lawyer. Our attorneys can help you act now for the answers you need, gathering evidence promptly. This is especially useful if you are hurt and need assistance—your Atlanta car crash lawyer can be there for you during this difficult time.

Contact John Foy & Associates to Speak With a Car Accident Lawyer for Free

Now you know how to request security camera footage of an accident. When you are involved in a car accident, you need all the evidence you can to prove you were not responsible for the accident. Unfortunately, the at-fault party may do everything in its power to blame you for the crash.

Luckily, you do not have to accept fault for your accident. Your lawyer at John Foy & Associates can help you seek out the traffic camera evidence you need, represent you in the courtroom, and get the compensation you are due for the suffering you experienced.

Ready to speak with a car accident lawyer in Atlanta, GA? We offer free consultations, so you can get the help you need now, not later. Reach out for guidance by calling or filling out our online contact form, then visit our FAQ page to learn more.