Finding footage of your car accident in Atlanta can give you substantial evidence against a negligent driver. But how can you get such footage, and how will you know if it exists?
You might be able to get footage of an auto accident in Atlanta by contacting the Atlanta Police Department or the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). Reaching out to eyewitnesses might enable you to obtain videos taken by smartphones. Dashboard cameras, surveillance cameras, and doorbell cameras might also capture footage of car accidents in Atlanta. Such video evidence, especially when presented with other examples of proof, can allow you to show how a defendant acted negligently, causing a car accident and your injuries in Atlanta.
Call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 to set up a confidential and free evaluation of your case with our Atlanta car accident lawyers.
How to Find Car Accident Footage in Atlanta
Victims in Atlanta who want to get footage of collisions can look into several possible sources. Government sources, like the Atlanta Police Department or the Georgia Department of Transportation, might have videos or photos that can be useful to you. Eyewitnesses might have filmed your crash as well. Footage from close-by surveillance cameras, dashboard cameras, or doorbell cameras might also exist.
Videos from Traffic Cameras
While speed cameras and red-light cameras don’t film car accidents, they might have taken photos that you can use to support your claim in Atlanta. These devices are managed by the Atlanta Police Department, meaning victims must contact the police directly to request photos. Speed and red-light cameras only take pictures if triggered by a reckless driver, lowering the chance that these devices will take photographs that are useful to victims.
The Georgia Department of Transportation also has live traffic cameras in Atlanta. While these cameras generally do not store live-streamed footage, our Georgia car accident lawyers can contact GDOT to confirm whether or not video footage is available. GDOT cameras are typically located along popular highways, exits, and intersections in Atlanta.
Videos from Eyewitnesses
Car accident victims in Atlanta may be able to retrieve footage of an incident from an eyewitness. We can contact eyewitnesses to see if they have any images, including possible photographs, that might be helpful to your case. Victims can request that eyewitnesses take footage of the aftermath of a collision if they are unable to do so themselves because of their injuries.
Videos from Security Cameras
If your accident happened close to a store or home, surveillance cameras might be nearby. By contacting owners, victims in Atlanta can obtain footage of a car accident that shows an at-fault driver’s negligent actions. These cameras might film the events immediately preceding and following an accident. Victims shouldn’t assume that footage will be available forever and should instead contact property owners with surveillance cameras as soon as possible after a collision in Atlanta.
Videos from Dashboard Cameras
Many cars have dashboard cameras. It’s possible that a car parked nearby or your own vehicle has such a device that filmed your accident. If you have a dashboard camera yourself, footage from that device might have the best view of an accident as it occurred.
Videos from Doorbell Cameras
Similar to surveillance cameras, doorbell cameras are quite popular. Victims in Atlanta can contact nearby homeowners to inquire whether their doorbell camera filmed an incident.
How to Use Car Accident Footage in an Atlanta Lawsuit
While other evidence can be useful to victims, footage can be especially compelling evidence against a negligent party. With such proof, you might be more likely to get a better outcome in a lawsuit.
When victims have video evidence of an at-fault driver acting irresponsibly and causing an accident, they have leverage. Victims can have greater control over possible settlement negotiations and feel comfortable knowing they have strong evidence in their favor should their case go to trial.
Some defendants attempt to use Georgia’s modified comparative fault laws against plaintiffs and claim that victims contributed to their injuries in an effort to reduce the damages they are awarded at trial. Video footage can show that you did not act negligently during a car accident in Atlanta, leaving your potential compensation unaffected.
Is Footage of a Car Accident Always Available in Atlanta?
Unfortunately, footage of car accidents is not always available to victims seeking compensation in Atlanta. Even if it is, it might not be clear or useful enough to introduce as evidence.
Footage of a vehicular accident that is obstructed, poorly lit, or with grainy resolution might be unhelpful to victims in Atlanta car accident lawsuits. If you can’t clearly see a defendant acting negligently, it may be best to not use video footage and rely on other evidence instead.
When footage is not useful or just does not exist, there is other proof you can use. Testimony from eyewitnesses can explain the events of a collision similarly to how video footage can. Statements from responding police officers can help to confirm a defendant’s involvement in the crash. Testimony from medical experts can illuminate the severity of a victim’s injuries, as can a victim’s medical records. Photographs of property damage taken by police officers, victims, or eyewitnesses can also be good evidence in a compensation claim.
If there is no available footage of your car accident in Atlanta, there is no reason to assume that other evidence that can support your claim also doesn’t exist. By reporting an accident, going to the hospital, and engaging in an investigation, victims can create and uncover evidence that meets the burden of proof in a civil claim and allows them to recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages in Atlanta.
Ask Us About Your Atlanta Car Accident Case Today
Call our Atlanta personal injury lawyers at (844) 876-4357 to schedule a free case review with Howe Law today.
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