Role of Traffic Camera Footage

The chaotic nature of car accidents makes it difficult for the involved parties to document all the critical events before, during, and after the accident. This is why traffic cameras are necessary at certain sections of the road, especially blackspots and intersections. The role of traffic camera footage is to help record critical details of a car accident that can be used as evidence in a court of law or in a car accident claim.

As experienced car accident lawyers in Arizona, the team at Gage Mathers wants to help you understand the important aspects of your car accident, like filing a successful accident claim, obtaining useful evidence for your claim, and identifying the right legal experts for your case!

What Is a Traffic Camera Footage?

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has installed traffic cameras along highways and major roads across the state. These CCTV cameras are installed at specific points on major roads to capture traffic incidents and help the traffic department manage traffic.

They record continuously and store footage for specific periods of time as evidence. The footage shows traffic flow and other incidents before, during, and after they occur.

This footage serves as evidence when filing a car accident claim, especially when the proof of liability is questionable. If poor road maintenance is responsible for the accident, your lawyer can use the traffic footage to prove your case, especially if you need to show the impact of poor road conditions.

Where Is the Traffic Camera Footage Applicable?

The CCTV cameras on our roads are intended to enhance traffic safety by allowing the traffic department to monitor roads in real-time, ensuring a timely response to traffic congestion and accidents. It also enables first responders to offer a speedy emergency response during road accidents.

Proving Liability in Car Accident Cases

While eyewitnesses are important for providing first-hand information on traffic accidents, their statements are likely to be biased or exaggerated. Traffic camera footage, on the other hand, offers unbiased evidence, helping you prove your case when filing your accident claim.

The clip has a timestamp with the exact moment the accident took place. With this kind of proof, the court and your insurance company will easily prove the party responsible for the accident.

If the police and eyewitness reports are inconclusive or inaccurate, you can rely on the traffic footage to support your claim. Your attorney will analyze the footage to determine if it supports or hurts your claim. Traffic footage can hurt your case by proving that you were tailgating, distracted, jaywalking, or exceeding the speed limit.

Investigating Hit-and-Run Cases

Hit-and-run cases remain a critical traffic concern in Arizona, with pedestrians suffering the most. Unfortunately, most of these cases do not have eyewitnesses because they happen at night. Traffic cameras come in handy in such incidents by providing important details, like vehicle descriptions and the liable parties.

Traffic Monitoring and Emergency Response

The traffic department in major cities across Arizona relies on traffic cameras to monitor and manage traffic. In Phoenix, police and traffic enforcement officers use footage from traffic cameras to control traffic and monitor areas that are prone to accidents.

ADOT uses traffic cameras to enhance traffic safety across the state, especially in critical areas like school zones and urban hot spots where fatalities, due to reckless driving, are high. With traffic cameras, the department can share live feeds with law enforcement officers for the speedy interception of reckless drivers and minimize collisions.   

Moving Forward

The role of traffic camera footage is to provide context and evidence of traffic incidents, especially when you’re filing a car accident claim. However, don’t present the footage in court or submit it to your insurer before you review it with your attorney.

The attorney will advise you on the usefulness of the footage to your claim; they should also assist you in calculating lost future income damages due to the accident. For reliable legal assistance in your personal injury claim in Arizona, talk to Gage Mathers today!

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 24 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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