When you are involved in a collision, you may wish there was a way you could show everyone what happened to recover the compensation you deserve. If your accident occurred near an intersection camera, you may be in luck! Obtaining the footage can help prove who was responsible for the injuries. However, this isn’t as simple as taking the memory card out of the camera and copying the files. The following blog explores what you must know about how these can impact your court case and why you need a Broward County auto accident lawyer to help you with these complex issues.
Am I Allowed to Use Intersection Camera Footage to Help My Accident Claim?
When you are involved in an accident, doing everything possible to help prove that you are not the negligent party is critical to recovering the compensation you deserve for your injuries. As such, obtaining footage of your accident can help prove the other driver was responsible for the damages you’ve endured.
Unlike other states, Florida does have traffic cameras that capture live traffic. Some cameras may retain the footage for twenty-four hours. Getting footage from the state can be beneficial to your case.
Having footage of the accident can help create a cut-and-dry case. This is because video recordings can be impossible to deny. However, it is necessary to understand that you can still be held liable if you were partially negligent for the accident. This is because Florida is a comparative negligence state, meaning your percentage of fault will be withheld from your award amount. For example, if you win $100,000 but are 20% responsible for the collision, you will only receive $80,000.
How Can I Get These Recordings?
If you are involved in a collision, you must act quickly to obtain the footage. Unfortunately, many cameras only hold on to footage for a short window. As such, you can contact the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). However, there is a chance that the footage was not held at all, but having an attorney can help you get answers quickly. As such, you can contact local homeowners and businesses to see if they will turn over any security footage that captured the accident. In some instances, your attorney can subpoena the recordings if necessary.
It’s also important to understand that if you have a dashboard camera, you may be able to use this footage to help illustrate your innocence in the collision. Additionally, if your accident occurred near a police officer, their dashboard camera may have captured footage of the accident that can be useful.
When injured in an accident, understanding the importance of connecting with an experienced attorney is essential. Unfortunately, many people attempt to navigate this process on their own, and they receive less than the compensation they are entitled to. However, letting an experienced attorney from the Finizio Law Group Guide you through this process can help you recover the funds you deserve. Reach out to our team today to learn how we can help you.
