Georgia’s roads and highways have an extensive traffic camera network that allows officials to monitor traffic in real time. The state also provides these camera feeds to the public through the Georgia Department of Transportation website so motorists can plan their travel. However, car accident victims cannot request a copy of the traffic camera footage after a crash because the state cannot store so much data.
Fortunately, other types of visual evidence could be available to support future legal claims after a car crash. An experienced car accident lawyer can determine other potential sources of video footage when investigating a personal injury case.
Why Does Georgia Not Record Video from Their Traffic Cameras?
After an auto accident, many victims wonder how to obtain traffic camera footage of the wreck. It’s an excellent thought. Camera footage is great evidence for car accident claims. However, the Georgia DOT cannot help with such requests.
The DOT does not record its traffic camera footage due to the logistical challenges of securing that quantity of computer data and providing the manpower necessary to respond to citizen requests for recorded footage. While you might not have data that highway cameras caught, there are other resources, such as video footage and other evidence, to build a strong car accident case against the liable party.
What Are Some Other Possible Sources of Camera Footage?
Despite the unavailability of recorded footage from Georgia DOT traffic cameras, car accident victims may have other sources of camera footage of the crash. Some other possible sources of video footage of a motor vehicle accident include:
- Dashcams – Drivers involved in accidents or who drive behind a crash may capture the accident on their vehicle’s dashcam, which can provide critical evidence in a subsequent motor vehicle accident case. Additionally, police officers who respond to auto accidents will record dashcam footage as they approach the crash scene.
- Private security cameras – Residences and businesses may have security cameras installed on the exterior of their buildings. When a collision occurs near a home or company with exterior security cameras, those devices may capture vital details about the collision.
- Cell phone footage – Sometimes, witnesses to an accident or bystanders may record the aftermath of a wreck before police arrive. In lucky cases, an accident victim may obtain video footage from a bystander who was recording something else and happened to catch the collision as well.
Can Camera Footage Be Used as Evidence in Your Case?
Video camera footage can provide valuable evidence for a car accident case. Many car accident claims involve disputes among drivers over what happened and who is at fault. For instance, both drivers may claim they had the right of way at an intersection. Camera footage may offer an objective perspective of the crash that can confirm or refute each party’s version of events. Footage can also corroborate other evidence in a car accident case, such as:
- Accident scene photos and videos
- Police crash reports
- Eyewitness testimony
- Accident reconstruction reports, models, animations, and expert testimony
Due to the fallibility of human memory, people may honestly have differing accounts of a motor vehicle accident. Camera footage can corroborate various parties’ accounts of the crash and fill in gaps where perspectives differ, giving car accident lawyers and insurance adjusters objective information about what really happened.
What Is Georgia’s EPORTS System?
The Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) operates EPORTS. This online platform allows individuals and organizations to request public documents prepared or stored by law enforcement agencies under the Georgia DPS, such as the Georgia State Patrol, the Motor Carrier Compliance Division, and the Capitol Police. Citizens can request copies of crash reports, incident reports, and citations/warnings through EPORTS. Crash and incident reports may also include accident scene photos or dashcam footage taken by the vehicles of the police officers who responded to and investigated the accident.
What Is the Process for Getting Additional Camera Footage Related to Your Accident?
The process for obtaining camera footage of a traffic accident varies depending on the source of the footage. For example, you might obtain footage from a security camera at a residence or business by contacting the homeowner or business owner to request a copy from their security camera’s hard drive.
Similarly, you might obtain footage from another driver’s dashcam or a bystander’s cell phone by getting their contact information and reaching out after the accident to request the footage.
But what if the other driver involved in the accident had a dashcam in their vehicle? You may have difficulty getting them to turn over the recording willingly. However, you can obtain a copy of that footage by filing a car accident lawsuit and having your attorney request it during the discovery phase of the litigation.
If you choose to pursue camera footage from private parties, you or your car accident attorney should submit requests as soon as possible. Many security cameras and vehicle dashcams write over old footage over time, although camera owners can pull and save specific footage from the camera’s hard drive. Waiting too long to ask a third party for a copy of the footage could mean losing access to important evidence for your car accident claim, so asking for it promptly gives you the best chance of success.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer
Obtaining footage of a crash that injured you can provide you with crucial evidence for your injury case. Securing it on your own could quickly become a challenge, but a Georgia car accident lawyer can help you request the recordings or subpoena them if necessary. Contact Sherrod & Bernard, P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced car accident attorney.
