How to Request Security Camera Footage of an Accident

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, the right lawyers can help you get the evidence you need. At John Foy & Associates, we are here to make recovery easy, including helping you through steps like requesting security camera footage of an accident. Talk to your Atlanta car accident lawyer about your options if you struggle to get this footage to use as evidence in your case. 

What Kinds of Security Camera Footage Can I Use? 

When requesting security camera footage, remember 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 is a sample of the sources of security camera footage you may be able to use: 

• Police security cameras 
• Dash cams
• Property surveillance cameras 
• Bystander footage 

Unsure where to start? Talk to your lawyer about your car accident and get the help you need to identify sources of evidence and use that evidence for your claim. Your lawyer can help you identify and use these sources to support your claim. 

Determine Which Cameras Caught the Accident 

Determining which 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 attorney in Georgia 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 caught your accident. Technical difficulties and wrong angles can make it difficult to catch your accident. Fortunately, your lawyer can identify the most likely options and help you get that footage. 

Identify the Camera Owners

Once you have identified which cameras will most likely have captured your accident, your next step is identifying 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 cameras placed by a government agency. Talk to your lawyer about who is most likely the owner of the cameras facing your accident. 

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 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 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 camera 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. 

Using Security Camera Footage for Your 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 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. Because this evidence can be used to identify and build more evidence for your claim, it can be a significant first step for your case. 

Act Swiftly to Get Your Footage on Time 

Remember that getting the needed footage is not always quick and easy. Getting the 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 some 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 footage can be stressful. 

That is why it is so important to act swiftly with the help of a lawyer. Your attorney 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 lawyer can be there for you during this difficult time. 

Talk to Your Lawyer for Guidance 

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 place the blame on you for the accident. 

Luckily, you do not have to accept fault for your accident. Your lawyer at John Foy & Associates can help you seek out the 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 lawyer? 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.