When building your case to claim compensation for car accident injuries, being able to access and present strong evidence such as traffic cam footage can certainly tip the scales in your favor. While we all understand how important traffic cam footage can be, not many are aware of what needs to be done to obtain this vital piece of evidence. In this post, we will be lending our expertise as a car accident lawyer in Brooklyn, providing you with the information you need to obtain the traffic cam footage you need.
Types of traffic cameras in New York
In New York, you can find various kinds of traffic cameras in various locations. Knowing what type of cameras were available and functioning in the area where your car accident occurred is an important first step in obtaining the footage you need. The types of cameras include:
- Red light cameras—These cameras can be found in intersections throughout the city and snap photos or videos of vehicles when they run red lights.
- Speed cameras—Speed cameras can be found throughout the city, especially in school and work zones, monitoring the speed of vehicles.
- Bus lane cameras—These cameras monitor traffic for unauthorized vehicles in the bus lane.
- Real-time traffic cameras—These cameras allow the authorities to monitor traffic across the state in real time, allowing authorities as well as the public to gather crucial information on traffic conditions.
How can traffic cam footage and information help with your claim?
When it comes to building your claim to seek the maximum compensation for your injuries in a car accident, the evidence you present matters a lot. Most of the evidence presented in cases, such as medical and police reports is developed after the fact and evidence from eyewitnesses can be imperfect and inconsistent.
When investigators want to take a look at the accident as it happened without prejudice, then there’s nothing quite like presenting traffic camera footage. The information we gain from traffic camera footage can be used to clear inconsistencies and determine who is responsible for the accident.
What are the steps to getting access to traffic camera footage in New York?
The process you need to follow to gain access to traffic cam footage in New York is pretty straightforward. But keep in mind that when accessing this footage, time is of the essence since most of the agencies that control these cameras often delete the footage after 30 to 90 days, sometimes even sooner. Here’s what you need to know:
Determine whether a traffic cam could have recorded the crash.
Before we go looking for traffic cam footage, we need to first figure out whether it is possible for a traffic cam to have clearly caught the accident. For example, if the accident occurred in an intersection, it would most likely have been caught on camera. On the other hand, if the accident happened on a major highway or intersection, the chances of it being recorded are low.
Figure out the agency you should contact to get the footage.
While most traffic cameras across the state are operated by the New York State Department of Transport (NYSDOT), it is not all. Certain cameras may be operated by other state entities such as the NYPD or partnered private companies.
If you’re unsure which agency operates which camera, the easiest way to find out is to contact the NYSDOT and ask whether they operate a particular camera or not. If they do not operate the camera in question, they could lead you to who does.
Submit a FOIL Request
In New York, you can submit the Freedom of Information Law Request (FOIL) online or via the mail to the FOIL office of the New York DMV. The submission may involve a small cost, but check to see if you qualify for an exemption from such a cost.
Provide clear details of the accident.
Most of the cameras operate 24/7 and record massive amounts of data. You should provide details about the date, time, and location of the accident to the best of your abilities. These details can help narrow down the footage you need to go through to tighter time windows and make going through the camera footage a whole lot easier.
Conclusion
No one understands the importance of having traffic cam footage when presenting a case for compensation in New York quite like a car accident lawyer in Manhattan. If you’re looking for help filing forms, tracking down camera footage, and navigating through New York’s complex insurance and legal webs, don’t worry because Gabriel Law is here to help. We’ve been representing the good people of New York in many car accident and personal injury cases, and we are here to help you as well. Should you need our services, contact us and schedule your free consultation today.
