One of the most crucial components in a vehicle accident claim is establishing the cause of the accident. Surveillance footage is increasingly one of the most valuable pieces of evidence in personal injury cases, though witness statements, police reports and medical records are all valuable. There are cameras at intersections, businesses, parking lots and even at private homes and it isn’t uncommon for there to be multiple angles of view of an accident. Depending on the evidence shown it can either give a claim more weight or present a challenge.
If someone is looking for legal advice, hiring a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer can aid in determining which surveillance camera is in use, if any, and ensuring they are maintained and properly analyzed. Video evidence can clearly present a scene of an accident, and can be compared to witness statements, police reports, and other documents. But with surveillance cameras always there is a need to take a close look at the footage as one camera may not capture everything.
Why CCTV footage is important?
Surveillance footage gives visual evidence of an event, where verbal statements are only a verbal account. While a camera doesn’t record everything perfectly, recorded video can provide valuable information that can help in determining what happened before a collision.
Surveillance footage is considered trustworthy evidence by insurance companies, attorneys and courts, as it captures what is happening as it happens. It can display traffic lights, car speeds, road conditions, driver actions or the actions of pedestrians prior to or following a collision.
All the same, video footage should not be used alone. The view of the camera, the quality of the image, the light and the limitations of the camera can all affect what is seen. As a result, surveillance videos are generally reviewed with medical records, pictures, witness statements and accident reports.
The Value of Video Evidence
This evidence can strengthen the claims of negligence, and minimize disagreements about liability.
The videos can also show the power of the impact, helping substantiate medical deductions concerning injuries. A camera cannot show someone is in pain or physical suffering, but it can give context and understanding of the impact and why some injuries were incurred.
Plus, video footage could also be used to determine other factors that weren’t suspected in the investigation. After watching the video, the hazards on the road, weather conditions, blocked signs and other vehicles could emerge.
Surveillance footage has the potential to damage a claim.Surveillance footage can have a negative impact on a claim.
Surveillance footage can be useful to injured parties, but can also be weak evidence to the detriment of a claim.
When a claimant gives inaccurate information about the accident and the accident report is different, the insurance companies may not believe the claim. The smallest of discrepancies can turn into an issue at the settlement stage.
Insurance companies occasionally use footage from surveillance cameras at businesses, properties next door or even traffic surveillance as evidence to confirm the reported incident. They also may review publicly posted videos or photos on social media that may be relevant to the case.
Occasionally, video might depict behaviors that seem unrelated to the injuries reported. There might be good reasons for such observations, but they can also have an impact on how insurers assess damages.
The various types of surveillance video
While many people think surveillance footage is limited to traffic cameras, there are many other types that could have valuable footage. Potential sources include:
- Other security cameras near the business premises
- Residential doorbell cameras
- Watch on Parking Garages monuments
- Gas station cameras
- Public transportation cameras
An increasing number of private cars are equipped with dashboard cameras. The monitoring of municipal traffic will be carried out using municipal traffic monitoring systems.
Different perspectives may be recorded in each instance and investigators will come to a better understanding of the accident overall.
Why Context Matters
When there is surveillance footage, it is not always sufficient to provide the answer to all the questions.
The camera may only be able to capture a part of the accident, may fail to capture some of the events outside of the camera’s frame, or may not capture the manner in which the accident occurred such as when a driver is distracted or for some mechanical fault. Similarly, the lighting might not be good, or weather or something else could obscure the view, making the recording less valuable.
In this regard, surveillance videos are typically considered to be part of a larger evidence. Medical records, accident reconstruction, witness testimony, photos, and police reports are still vital components of the injury case.
Examination of all sources of information helps to ensure that conclusions are made on the basis of all the information and not just one recording.
Furthermore, CCTV footages has revolutionised the process of investigating and assessing injuries. It can help understand the facts of an accident, can help clear up questions about facts and can help build evidence to support the injured party’s claim.
Injured parties can better understand these operations and how to use the surveillance footage to navigate the claims process, and make decisions after an accident. To get more information on this matter, or the legal procedure of injury claims, click here to know more info.