There are 6 million car accidents in the United States each year. It can be extremely frustrating to be in a car accident that was not your fault. You may be suffering from injuries, property damage, and time away from school or work. The good news is that you are legally entitled to receive compensation for the damage that you suffered as a result of the car accident.
This includes financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. To receive compensation, you can file a claim against the at-fault party’s car insurance company, and/or file a personal injury lawsuit.
However, in order to have a successful claim, you must provide proof of the other driver’s negligence or fault. One of the best pieces of evidence is to have surveillance camera footage of the car accident. The surveillance video of the accident can provide conclusive proof of how the accident occured.
Why Getting Video Surveillance Footage of Your Car Accident is Important
Technology has advanced to a point where it is involved in every aspect of our everyday life. Video cameras are everywhere. Anytime we go down the street we may be caught on traffic cameras, dash cameras, commercial business cameras, or home security systems. While this may sound unnerving, it can also have many advantages. For one, the presence of surveillance cameras are thought to help deter crime. Additionally, video footage can come in handy for when a crime occurs. They are also valuable for determining fault in motor vehicle accidents.
Some car accidents may have no unbiased witnesses. Thus, the case may come down to a “he said, she said” situation. If you were in a car accident that was not your fault, you surely will want to get the maximum compensation you deserve. Whether you file a claim with the car insurance company, or file a personal injury lawsuit, you will have to provide proof that the accident was the other party’s fault. Having the video footage of the incident can offer conclusive proof to help you win your case.
How to Obtain Video Surveillance
At first you may want to try going to the video owners and asking for a copy of the footage. For example, if your accident was on a residential street, you may want to ask the residents for access to their home security systems. If your accident happened within a commercial district, you will want to ask the local shopkeepers for access. You can also contact the city hall or town’s municipal government where the accident occurred for access to their traffic cameras. In any case, you will want to act quickly before any footage is erased or lost forever.
Although your motor vehicle accident may have been caught on camera, the owner of the footage does not have any duty to just give it to you. If your attempts to receive the footage fail, you may have to go to court and file a subpoena. A subpoena is an order that compels a person or organization to turn over information, such as video camera footage. Although it involves work, the footage may provide valuable information.
A subpoena can be filled out at your local court. You will have to file a Request for Information and then serve it on the party to produce the video. The subpoena must be done accurately or your request will be denied by the judge. As it is so important to be precise, your best bet is to try to find a lawyer for advice. Going through the process will be much easier with experienced legal representation by your side. Contact a local car accident attorney today to find out more information.
