Following a car accident, a victim may seek to hold a party accountable for the negligence that caused the accident. Drivers who behave negligently behind the wheel by driving distracted, drunk, drowsy, or recklessly can be liable in a car accident claim. However, car accident victims must be able to prove the at-fault party caused the car accident through negligent driving behavior.
They can do this by gathering evidence to prove the four elements of negligence in a car accident claim. Video evidence is one piece of evidence that can help establish the at-fault party’s liability. Video footage from dashcams, street light cameras, and security cameras from local stores can show the negligent driving behavior of the liable party to help hold them accountable for car accident damages.
Car Accident Victims Must Prove the At-Fault Party’s Negligence to Recover Compensatory Damages
Car accident claims must be proven through tangible evidence that establishes one party’s negligent actions caused the accident. While duty of care is assumed in a car accident, breach of duty of care is not and must be proven. To recover compensation for a car accident claim, victims must prove the at-fault party breached duty of care through negligent behavior and caused the car accident that resulted in the victim’s car accident damages.
In most cases, the at-fault party is another driver whose negligent driving behavior, such as distracted driving, speeding, or drunk driving, caused the accident. Car accident victims must find evidence that can establish negligent driving behavior caused the car accident. One such piece of evidence that can help prove liability in a car accident claim is video footage.
Video Footage Can Show How a Car Accident Occurred
If there is a camera that captures video footage of your car accident, you can request the footage and use it to help prove the at-fault party’s negligence caused the accident. The video footage can show how the car accident happened and whether the at-fault party was driving unsafely.
For example, a street light camera could capture footage of an intersection crash. The footage can show you were following road rules when a driver ran a red light and crashed into the side of your vehicle, causing a T-bone accident. The camera is in a good position at the street light to record the footage of the accident and prove the at-fault party’s dangerous driving caused the car accident.
Where Can Car Accident Victims Find Video Evidence?
Video footage that can serve as evidence in a car accident claim can come from many different places. The important thing to note is that the video footage must have a good angle on the car accident to serve as concrete evidence of the at-fault party’s liability. When trying to find video evidence, consider where the camera is located to determine whether it could have a good angle on the car accident.
As mentioned above, some streetlights contain cameras. If you were involved in an intersection accident, a street light camera could capture the accident from the proper angle to prove the at-fault party’s liability. Local stores and properties may have security cameras that can capture part of the street, which means they may have recorded a part of your car accident. You can also find video footage from dashboard cams, social media videos, doorbell cameras, and ATM cameras.
Filing the Right Paperwork to Secure Video Evidence of a Car Accident
To use the video footage as evidence, you will have the request the recordings from the owners of the camera footage. Requesting video footage from street lights and police body cameras requires filing the necessary paperwork, which your car accident lawyer can advise you on. Some parties, such as local businesses and private citizens, will be willing to allow you to use the camera footage. However, some may not want to offer up the video footage so easily.
If a party refuses to allow you to see the video footage, you could use a subpoena. This is a court-ordered document that requests the owner of the video footage to allow you to see the footage, whether you wish to use it in court or not. The party is legally obligated to produce the camera footage if you are able to secure a subpoena. However, you must file paperwork and wait for approval from the court before you can demand the video footage. Before attempting to gather video evidence of the car accident, you should consult with a car accident lawyer to determine what your best path is for securing video evidence and whether the hassle is worth it.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You Pursue Compensatory Damages?
A car accident lawyer can help you with the process of gathering video evidence, as they will know what paperwork to file and whether the video evidence can help with your case. Car accident lawyers with years of experience helping car accident victims recover compensatory damages will know what evidence can help prove the at-fault party’s liability. They can assist you in gathering video and photographic evidence, medical records, police reports, vehicle accident reconstructions, etc.
The following are some other ways car accident lawyers can help with car accident claims:
- Calculate your car accident claim’s value
- Determine who caused the car accident
- Explain your state’s laws that can affect your car accident claim
- Write the demand letter
- Negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Represent you in court
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Car Accident Claim
The car accident lawyers at The Russo Firm can help you recover compensation for car accident damages, such as medical bills, property damage, and loss of enjoyment of life. They understand how car accident injuries can affect a victim’s physical health, financial situation, and quality of life. Our car accident can help you gather video evidence to prove the at-fault party’s liability and put you in a position to recover fair compensation for damages. Contact us for a free case evaluation at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
