How to Obtain Traffic Camera Video of Your Florida Car Accident

Traffic camera video can provide solid evidence in a car accident claim. In some cases, it’s possible to obtain traffic camera footage of a Florida car accident. All municipalities have their own rules for requesting video. You’ll likely need an attorney to submit a subpoena or a formal request.

The car accident attorneys at Zervos & Calta, PLLC, have extensive experience gathering evidence to build compelling car accident cases and helping clients seek fair compensation. If you have been injured due to another driver’s fault, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, future medical care, and emotional distress. Our legal team can review the circumstances surrounding your car accident and discuss your legal options. This guide explains how to obtain traffic camera footage of your Florida car accident. If you have questions, please call for a free consultation.

Can a Florida Car Accident Lawyer Help Me Obtain Camera Video of My Car Accident?

Yes, in some cases. An experienced car accident lawyer can visit the scene of an auto accident and identify the locations of any security cameras or nearby traffic cameras. Your attorney can:

• Submit a timely request for footage before the video is recorded over or deleted
• Contact the government agency or private party that has the video on your behalf
• File subpoenas or take legal action if the footage is withheld

The attorney will need to act quickly before the video is erased. Whether the footage is in the possession of a government agency, a private business, or a private citizen, the possessor may be reluctant to share the photographic evidence without legal pressure. An experienced attorney knows the legal issues that may arise and the appropriate steps to take to seek the footage.

What Are Some Types of Video Footage That Could Be Available After a Car Crash?

Several different cameras may have captured an auto accident. The possible sources include:

• Red Light Camera: Some municipalities install red light cameras at intersections that have high numbers of crashes to deter drivers from running red lights. If an accident occurs at an intersection with red-light camera enforcement, photographic evidence may be available.
• Traffic Camera: FDOT – FL Dept of Transportation, or a local municipality may have footage from cameras at traffic signals, along major roadways, and at toll booths.
• Dashcam: Law enforcement vehicles often have dashcams to record traffic stops and accidents. Some private drivers use them to protect their rights after an accident.
• Surveillance Video: Nearby businesses, such as gas stations, convenience stores, or shopping centers, may have security cameras facing the road.
• Cell Phone Video: Witnesses or passengers sometimes record accidents on their mobile phones.
• Tollbooth Video: Florida toll facilities often record vehicles as they pass through. Even if they don’t capture the accident itself, these cameras can sometimes provide useful time-stamped evidence.
• Local residences often have outside cameras  or doorbells that have video recording capabilities that may capture your accident.

What Is Legally Required to Obtain Traffic Footage?

The process for obtaining accident footage depends on who possesses it. The first step is determining whether any cameras were near the accident scene and may have recorded the events leading up to the collision. Typically, the steps include:

• Determining Whether the Footage is Necessary: While video can be helpful, you don’t always need it to prove fault in a car accident lawsuit or insurance claim. Other evidence, such as police reports, medical records, and witness testimony, may be sufficient.
• Identifying Who Has the Footage: The video footage may belong to a government entity, a private business, or a private citizen. Each has unique considerations for accessing the video.
• Submitting a Request: Some footage, such as a city-operated traffic camera video, can be acquired through a public records request. In other cases, you may need to make a direct request to a private party.
• Pursuing Legal Action, If Necessary: If the party declines to turn over the requested video, a lawyer can submit a subpoena requiring the footage to be preserved and released if it’s relevant to the case.

Can the Owner of the Footage Deny My Request for a Copy of the Video?

Yes. Private businesses and individuals are not legally required to share their security or dash camera recordings unless compelled by law. Even some government entities may have restrictions on releasing footage from a red light camera program without a formal request or subpoena.

However, a denied request does not mean you have no other options. An experienced lawyer knows the proper legal channels to go through when seeking evidence and appealing denied requests. That is another reason why it’s crucial to work with the right attorney when pursuing a car accident claim involving serious injuries.

How Long Might the Video of a Car Accident Be Saved?

In many cases, the footage doesn’t last long. Although cellphone video may exist until the owner deletes it, many automated enforcement systems overwrite older footage within days or weeks. For example:

• Traffic cameras and red-light cameras typically only store footage for a short period.
• Businesses frequently reuse surveillance tapes after 24-72 hours.
• Private dashcams often overwrite footage once the memory is full.

It’s difficult to say how long you might have before accident footage is lost. The sooner you seek legal help, the better your chances of obtaining critical video footage before it’s erased.

What If There Is No Traffic Camera Footage Available?

If a traffic camera or a camera system showing red light violations does not exist, or if the video has been erased, other video sources may still exist. Alternative options include:

• Cell phone recordings from witnesses or passengers
• Business surveillance cameras near the accident scene
• Home security systems from nearby residences

Video footage is not available in all car accident cases. An experienced personal injury attorney can build a strong car accident claim using evidence such as police reports, photos, witness testimony, and accident scene reconstructions.

What Happens If the Video Footage Shows You Were Partially At Fault for the Accident?

Under Florida law, you can still seek compensation even if you were partially at fault for a car wreck. Florida applies a comparative negligence rule, which allows car accident victims to pursue compensation for serious injuries so long as they were less than 51 percent at fault for the accident. However, any compensation awarded would be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.

For example, if you are found to be 20 percent at fault for an accident and a court awards $100,000 in damages, your recovery will be reduced by 20 percent, and your compensation would be $80,000.

Contact a Florida Car Accident Lawyer

If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a car accident and believe video evidence is available, Zervos & Calta, PLLC, can help you seek justice and just compensation. Our law firm has recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for car accident victims, many of whom have shared client testimonials about the legal services and compassionate support our legal team provided them.

We know what it takes to build a compelling case for compensation. We are ready to stand up to an insurance company and demand that you receive fair compensation. We are experienced trial attorneys and will be prepared to go to court if necessary to help.

Visit Our Florida Car Accident Law Offices

About the Author

Lauren Calta
Attorney Lauren Calta is a partner in the Tampa Bay law firm Zervos & Calta, PLLC. For 33 years, Lauren Calta has focused her legal practice on representing people who have been harmed in personal injury, car accidents or lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. A distinguished personal injury trial attorney, she has secured millions of dollars for her clients and is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum in recognition of having obtained a settlement or verdict in excess of $2 million. She also is an official member of Lawyers of Distinction, Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers, Clearwater Bar Association and Florida Justice Association.