When Georgia victims file an insurance claim after a car accident, they should expect an insurance company to investigate a collision’s events. That often includes obtaining traffic camera footage of a crash, if it exists.
If you file an insurance claim after a car accident in Georgia, an insurance company may try to access traffic camera footage or photographs of a collision. While the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) doesn’t store footage from live traffic cameras, local law enforcement agencies may keep images from red-light and speed cameras for some time. That means insurance companies can access those pictures, if they exist, and might try to use them against you. If that happens, hire an attorney. Your lawyer can uncover more compelling evidence that proves a negligent driver caused your injuries.
We’re here to help Georgia car accident victims hold negligent drivers accountable. For a free case evaluation with the Georgia car accident lawyers at Howe Law, call today at (844) 876-4357.
Can Insurance Companies Get Footage from Traffic Cameras in Georgia?
If there is traffic footage or other images of your Georgia car accident, a negligent driver’s liability insurance company may try to access it. While the Georgia Department of Transportation and local law enforcement agencies maintain various traffic cameras throughout the state, accessing information from these devices can be challenging, even for insurance companies. However, that doesn’t mean that they won’t try.
GDOT Cameras
The Georgia Department of Transportation maintains live traffic cameras along highways and other busy roadways in the state. These cameras stream footage to GDOT’s website for drivers and GDOT staff to stay updated on traffic and weather conditions. While a GDOT camera might have been able to stream your recent Georgia car accident live, it’s unlikely that an insurance company will be able to access that information in the future. GDOT does not currently store footage from live cameras for any period or for any party to access, including Georgia insurance companies.
Speed Cameras
Georgia is one of several states that allows speed cameras. These traffic cameras are allowed in school zones to deter speeding. When triggered by a speeding driver, these devices snap pictures of a negligent driver’s face and license plate. Georgia law enforcement officials then use these pictures to identify and ticket a speeding driver. If a speed camera was triggered during your accident and took some photos, a Georgia insurance company may be able to obtain such images from the police.
Red-Light Cameras
Red-light cameras don’t film footage but take pictures when negligent drivers run stoplights in Georgia. These pictures are collected by police officers who use them to identify and ticket reckless drivers. Because law enforcement agencies must keep photos from red-light cameras long enough to penalize a negligent driver, a Georgia insurance company may be able to access pictures if it acts quickly enough. While it is rare for a red-light camera to photograph a Georgia car accident, it is possible.
Why Do Georgia Insurance Companies Try to Get Traffic Camera Footage?
As a Georgia car accident victim, you may wish to obtain traffic camera footage or photos of a recent collision. But why might an insurance company want to do the same thing? While a victim may want evidence to prove a negligent driver’s fault, an insurance company might want to use images from traffic cameras to undermine a victim’s story.
Georgia is a fault state for car accidents, meaning victims generally file claims with a negligent driver’s liability insurance after a crash. After you do this, an insurance company will begin an investigation into an accident. Unfortunately for Georgia car accident victims, this investigation isn’t necessarily to get to the truth but possibly to find a reason to deny a claim.
That is often why insurance companies try to get traffic camera footage or photos of a collision. These images are often fuzzy and unclear, allowing insurance companies to speculate about an accident’s cause. Victims without a skilled Macon car accident lawyer by their side may not expect an insurance company to use these unsavory tactics and could see their claim denied.
Georgia is a modified comparative fault state. This means that victims can see their damages reduced if they share the blame for a collision. In attempting to uncover unclear traffic camera footage, an insurance company may be trying to call into question a victim’s involvement in an accident. Hire an Atlanta car accident lawyer when dealing with selfish insurance companies to prevent this from happening.
What if an Insurance Company Uses Traffic Camera Footage Against You in Georgia?
If a Georgia insurance company attempts to use images from traffic cameras against you, hire an attorney. An experienced lawyer can launch an investigation of their own, to uncover more compelling evidence that shows a negligent driver, not a victim, is responsible for an accident.
Don’t let an insurance company manipulate evidence to fit its narrative of an accident’s events. Instead, hire a skilled lawyer with experience investigating similar claims. Your attorney can review police reports, eyewitness statements, and medical records to find evidence of a negligent driver’s fault.
A Savannah car accident lawyer can turn to more reliable filming devices, like private security cameras, to uncover clear footage of a collision. Photos from the accident scene taken by victims, first responders, and witnesses can outweigh fuzzy traffic camera photos.
If a negligent driver caused your injuries, subpar images from traffic camera photos shouldn’t be enough for an insurance company to deny your claim. Unfortunately, these companies seek to find information they can use against victims to avoid paying Georgia car accident victims what they’re due. Take charge of your access to compensation and hire an attorney. The right lawyer can find clear evidence of a negligent driver’s fault so that you can recover the damages you deserve, whether through an insurance claim or a lawsuit.
Call Our Attorneys After a Car Accident in Georgia
If you were recently injured in a car accident in Georgia, our attorneys can help. For a free case evaluation with the Alpharetta car accident lawyers at Howe Law, call today at (844) 876-4357.
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