Do Insurance Companies Check Cameras After a Crash?
If you have been injured in a car crash, it’s almost inevitable that you will be dealing with insurance companies in some way or another. Insurance companies use various tactics in the course of processing a car accident claim with one goal in mind: paying you the least amount of money possible. This can be highly frustrating, especially given the ample amount of evidence available. In this day and age, cameras capture almost everything that happens in public, and car accidents are no exception. This cuts both ways, as insurance companies can either use the footage against you or you can use it to your advantage.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car crash, dealing with an insurance company requires extensive knowledge and skill. Since 2003, Florida personal injury attorney Scott Sobol and The Law Offices of Scott Sobol has built a reputation for compassionate, comprehensive legal representation for thousands of clients throughout the Broward County area.
How Will an Insurance Company Be Involved in My Claim?
No matter how your car crash occurs, an insurance company is going to get involved. Once the injury claim is submitted to the insurance company for review, you will be contacted by an adjuster.
The insurance adjuster may accept the claim as-is, make a counteroffer, or reject the claim. However, once the claim is assigned to an adjuster, they will have the full resources of the company at their disposal, including beginning their own evidence-gathering process. This is the most likely point that camera footage will come into play.
Will the Insurance Company Look at Video Footage?
Depending on where exactly your car crash occurred, video footage will likely exist of the accident. If the crash occurred on a busy street or near a business, the likelihood that security camera footage exists is quite high, and will also potentially have different angles of the incident. That said, technology has increased to the point that a variety of different types of video footage can be taken, including:
- Business security footage
- Traffic surveillance
- Witness videos
- Body cameras
- Ring Doorbell surveillance
- Dash cameras
Insurance companies may be able to use video footage for a variety of reasons, mostly including:
- Challenging the validity of your claim
- Disputing liability of their insured
- Proving negligence on your part
- Proving (or disproving) facts of the crash
While the knowledge of video footage is the first step in the evidence-gathering process, being able to respond to how the footage is used is very important. This is where the services of an experienced car crash lawyer can be invaluable to your claim.
How Can a Lawyer Help With My Claim?
One way or the other, video footage will likely play a huge role in your claim. The nature of video footage goes a long way in establishing whether or not your claim is solid as well as helping the insurance company figure out who was at fault. Still, having a lawyer who is experienced at dealing with insurance companies can mitigate any damage video footage might have on your claim by doing the following:
- Discussing footage with owners
- Analyzing video footage for evidentiary purposes
- Answering your questions
- Reviewing legal documents
- Conduct a fair investigation
- Mitigating potential legal problems
- Proving the other party’s negligence
- Discussing and negotiating claims and settlement offers with insurance companies
It’s important to understand that businesses and witnesses have no obligation to provide you with video footage. Still, working with an experienced lawyer can help persuade them into allowing you access. Once you gain access to the footage, both you and your lawyer will have a better idea of how to approach your claim.
Contact an Experienced Florida Car Accident Lawyer
Being in a car crash is difficult enough on its own, and when you factor in dealing with an insurance company that has a vested interest in paying out as little money as possible, it can seem overwhelming. They’ll use whatever evidence they can find, up to and including video footage. Don’t let that happen to you.
With The Law Offices of Scott Sobol on your side, you can rest assured that you will receive a fair payout for your injuries. Attorney Scott Sobol has represented over one thousand car accident victims throughout his years of practice, so he is familiar with how insurance companies approach car crash claims and how to combat their tactics so that you receive what you are owed for your injuries. Schedule a free consultation with his office today by calling (954) 440-2000 or completing this contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
To find out if there’s camera footage of your accident, you can check for traffic cameras at nearby intersections or ask local businesses if their surveillance systems recorded the incident. If you have a dash cam, that footage could also be valuable. Your attorney can help you request and review any available footage.
Several types of cameras might capture a car crash, including traffic cameras at intersections, dash cams installed in vehicles, security cameras from nearby businesses, and even doorbell cameras from homes close to the accident site.
To obtain camera footage for your claim, you can request it directly from local authorities or businesses. If the crash occurred near a traffic camera, the local transportation department may have footage. Your attorney can also assist in making formal requests for video evidence.
While camera footage provides strong evidence, insurance companies may still attempt to deny or reduce a claim if they believe other factors – such as contributory negligence—apply. Having a knowledgeable attorney on your side can help ensure that camera footage is used effectively in your claim.
The length of time traffic cameras store footage varies depending on the jurisdiction and the camera system. Some cameras may only keep footage for a few days, while others might retain it for weeks. It’s important to act quickly to request footage before it’s deleted.
If there is no camera footage of your accident, you can still build a strong case using other forms of evidence, such as witness statements, police reports, and photographs of the scene. An attorney can help you gather and present the best available evidence for your claim.
LEGALLY REVIEWED BY:
Scott Sobol
November 15, 2024
Scott Sobol is a dedicated personal injury attorney with over two decades of experience representing injured clients across South Florida. He has handled more than 1,000 cases involving serious car accidents, unsafe premises, and denied insurance claims. Known for his client-focused approach, Scott prioritizes open communication to guide clients confidently through complex legal challenges. Licensed in Florida, Illinois, and Texas, his extensive knowledge of the law ensures a strong pursuit of justice for those affected by negligence.
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