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How To Get Surveillance Camera Footage Of A Car Accident

PUBLISHED ON: August 3, 2023    LAST MODIFIED ON: November 6, 2023

If you’re looking to get surveillance camera footage of a car accident, the team at Nava Law Group in Bellaire, TX is here to help. Accidents can occur anywhere and at any time – so having video evidence from nearby traffic cameras or security cameras can provide crucial information in establishing fault after a car accident has occurred. Our attorneys are experienced in collecting video footages for accidents involving all kinds of transportation methods – be it motor vehicles, bicycles, or even pedestrians – making sure that your rights are not violated if the other party is responsible for the damages caused. With our expertise and knowledge on video records collected from irresponsible drivers, we can ensure that justice will be served before it’s too late!

How To Get Surveillance Camera Footage Of A Car Accident

Find Out Which Department Has Control Over the Camera

The first step in obtaining surveillance footage is to figure out which department has control over the camera. Is it a city traffic camera, or is it privately owned by a business? If it’s a traffic camera, then it’s most likely controlled by the Texas Department of Transportation. If it’s privately owned, then you’ll need to contact the business directly.

File an Open Records Request

Once you’ve determined which department has control over the camera, you’ll need to file an open records request. This is a formal request for access to public information. You can find the open records request form for the Texas Department of Transportation on their website. If it’s a privately owned camera, then you’ll need to request access directly from the business.

Provide All the Necessary Information

When filing your request, be sure to give all the necessary information. This includes the date and time of the accident, the specific location of the camera, and any other identifying information that might be helpful.

Follow-Up on Your Request

After you’ve filed your request, it’s important to follow up on it. Don’t assume that everything will be taken care of automatically. Check on the status of your request periodically to make sure that it’s still being processed.

Enlist the Help of the Team at the Nava Law Group in Bellaire

Before you pursue the surveillance camera footage of your car accident, make sure to take all the proper precautions in order to protect your rights and have a successful outcome. Understand that different laws exist between states that may impact how and when you can obtain the footage. Additionally, as stated above, gathering the video tape can be a long process so don’t take too long in getting started. It is generally better to proactively pursue the footage earlier rather than later. Although it may seem complicated at first, reviewing the full video coverage of an accident can provide fabulous results for personal injury claims and understanding what happened by viewing the footage can assist in determining fault and whether a case needs to proceed further.

If you’re ready to find out if you have a viable claim that should be pursued or if you run into any road blocks while trying to secure surveillance camera footage associated with a crash in which you were injured, contact the Nava Law Group today at 713-661-9900—we are here for you every step of the way.

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