Getting footage of a car accident can be important for victims seeking compensation. Retrieval methods vary, depending on the device that filmed at collision.
There are some agencies and people victims can contact to obtain footage of a car accident in Gulfport. Unfortunately, the Gulfport Police Department does not have automated enforcement cameras that could film or photograph a collision. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) might have footage, although it is rare. Eyewitnesses or nearby surveillance cameras could have filmed your accident. Victims can also film the fallout of an accident themselves to demonstrate its severity.
For a confidential and free case evaluation from our Gulfport car accident lawyers, call Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
Getting Car Accident Footage from the Gulfport Police
After an auto accident, it is common for victims to approach the police to ask if any red-light or speed cameras might have filmed their collision. In Gulfport, going to the police won’t result in victims obtaining footage of their collision.
Mississippi does not allow red-light or speed cameras in any city or jurisdiction in the state, including Gulfport. Because automated enforcement cameras, such as red-light and speed cameras, are the primary devices operated and maintained by law enforcement, attempting to get car accident footage from the police will be unsuccessful for victims in Gulfport.
Getting Car Accident Footage from the Mississippi Department of Transportation
Several live traffic cameras are operated by the Mississippi Department of Transportation within Gulfport. You can contact MDOT directly to inquire about potential footage of your collision.
According to MDOT’s website for live traffic footage, there are four cameras in Gulfport. They’re located along US 49, at Dedeaux Road, Community Road, and Middle Drive. There is also a traffic camera where US 49 and I-10 intersect. Unless an accident happened at one of these locations, an MDOT camera would not have filmed it. This drastically lowers the chances of a collision being filmed by an MDOT camera in Gulfport.
Even if an MDOT camera streamed live footage of a crash in Gulfport, that footage might not be kept. Like other agencies that provide a similar service of streaming live footage of traffic, MDOT doesn’t necessarily keep videos for any period of time. That said, our Mississippi car accident lawyers can contact MDOT to inquire about stored footage if your accident occurred near a traffic camera. Victims should not expect to have access to such footage, even if they were injured in an accident on US 49 in Gulfport.
Getting Car Accident Footage from Surveillance Cameras in Gulfport
After a car crash, victims can survey the area for possible surveillance cameras. They can then contact the owners of such cameras to request access to footage of their collision.
Surveillance, doorbell, and dashboard cameras are all devices that could film a car accident. Homeowners and business owners with security cameras may be able to provide you with footage of your collision if you reach out quickly enough. If you don’t contact them soon after an incident, there is a chance that footage of your accident in Gulfport will be deleted.
Getting Car Accident Footage from Witnesses in Gulfport
Witnesses are known to film car accidents and the aftermaths of collisions. You can contact them to get any footage they might have filmed on their devices.
Victims can learn the contact details of eyewitnesses from police reports. Law enforcement officers typically interview witnesses and gain access to this information following a crash. In addition to possibly filming an accident, witnesses might have also taken photos of the accident site.
If witnesses cannot provide you with footage, their testimony can be similarly effective in a car accident lawsuit against an at-fault driver. This means that contacting eyewitnesses, regardless of whether or not they have footage useful to you, can be vital for the success of your claim.
Filming Car Accident Footage Yourself in Gulfport
While you will likely not have filmed your car accident as it occurred, you may be able to film the aftermath, providing greater insight into the damage caused by a negligent driver in Gulfport.
Victims may be able to use their smartphones to take video footage of their injuries and property damage following a car accident in Gulfport. It may be easier for victims to take a video rather than take photos, depending on the extent of their injuries.
Victims can hand eyewitnesses or police officers their phones to film when they are unable to. Filming the entire accident scene, including involved cars, debris, and victims’ injuries, can ultimately be very useful to victims when they file a lawsuit against a negligent party in Gulfport. If you have a dashboard camera in your vehicle, it may have filmed the collision.
What Can Footage of a Car Accident in Gulfport Show?
Video footage of an event like a car accident can show an at-fault party’s negligence and a victim’s initial damages. This is why obtaining footage of a car crash, if it exists, is crucial for victims in Gulfport.
If footage of your accident is available, it can show how a driver acted negligently, causing your injuries. For example, footage can show a driver speeding or swerving in and out of lanes. It can show a driver running a traffic light or making an illegal turn.
Footage can also include the aftermath of an accident, namely visuals of a victim’s immediate injuries, which can help prove that a negligent driver caused your damages. When coupled with other evidence, like witness statements and medical records, footage of your recent accident can help prove that a negligent driver caused your damages in Gulfport, enabling you to recover compensation.
Get Compensation After a Car Crash in Gulfport
To schedule a free case review with our Gulfport personal injury lawyers, call Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
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