ClickCease Guide to Securing Video Surveillance Footage After an Accident

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Securing Video Surveillance Footage After an Accident: What You Need to Know

Seth Harris

Last modified on January 1, 2024

After a New York car accident, proving what really happened is often your biggest challenge. Using video footage in personal injury claims is a big help, as it provides a clear, unbiased perspective of the events.

The New York car accident lawyers at Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb understand the importance of getting video surveillance footage after an accident to build a robust personal injury claim.
This guide will demonstrate the steps to obtain video evidence effectively. By following these instructions, you’ll give your case the solid foundation it needs.

Why You Need Video Footage of a Crash for a Car Accident Claim

Securing video footage of a car accident is vital for your personal injury claim. This footage serves as concrete evidence, capturing the events exactly as they occurred, free from bias or memory flaws. It can clearly show the sequence of events leading up to the crash, the impact, and the immediate aftermath, providing indisputable facts that support your version of events.

On the flip side, not having video footage can put you at a disadvantage. Without it, your case might rely heavily on witness statements, which can be subjective or inconsistent. Lack of clear, visual evidence can lead to disputes about who was at fault in the collision. This can complicate the claims process and may result in reduced compensation.

Sources of Surveillance Footage for a Car Accident Case

Finding video surveillance footage after a car accident is like putting together pieces of a puzzle. Each piece of footage offers a unique perspective that can help illustrate the full picture of what happened. Here are some key sources where you might find this crucial evidence:

  • Traffic Cameras: These cameras are positioned at intersections and capture real-time traffic conditions and incidents.
  • Business Security Cameras: Many businesses use security cameras that may overlook streets and capture accident footage.
  • Dashcams: Vehicles equipped with dashcams can provide first-hand recordings of the accident from a driver’s perspective.
  • Body Cameras: Worn by law enforcement or security personnel, these cameras can offer up-close footage of the aftermath.
  • ATM Cameras: Often overlooked, ATM cameras frequently have a clear view of nearby streets and accidents.
  • Residential Doorbell Cameras: Doorbell cameras in residential areas can capture unexpected angles of street incidents.
  • Public Transportation Cameras: Buses and trains often have cameras that might record incidents on or near their routes.
  • Mobile Phone Footage: Bystanders or witnesses might capture the incident on their smartphones, providing valuable perspectives.

How to Request Surveillance Video from Businesses and Other Sources

After a car accident, acting swiftly to secure video surveillance footage is crucial. This urgency is due to the risk of footage being overwritten or deleted after a specific period. Here are the legal steps to obtain accident footage in New York:

  • Business Security Cameras: Approach the business owners directly and politely request a copy of the footage, explaining its importance for your claim.
  • Traffic Cameras: Request footage from the New York Department of Transportation or the local municipality that manages the cameras.
  • Dashcams: If the dashcam belongs to you or someone you know, save the footage immediately. If it belongs to another driver, ask for a copy or for their contact information for your attorney to follow up.
  • Body Cameras: For footage from law enforcement or security personnel, you may need to file a formal request with the respective agency.
  • ATM Cameras: Contact the bank or financial institution that operates the ATM and inquire about their procedure for obtaining footage.
  • Residential Doorbell Cameras: Ask the homeowner directly for the footage, making sure to explain how it relates to your accident.
  • Public Transportation Cameras: Submit a request to the public transportation authority that operates the service, as they may have specific protocols for releasing footage.
  • Mobile Phone Footage: If witnesses capture the accident on their phones, ask for their contact details so your attorney can formally request the footage.

How Our NYC Accident Attorneys Can Help You Recover Footage of a Crash

At Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb, we understand the challenges of recovering crucial video footage after a car accident. Our capable and driven attorneys have the know-how and resources to track down and secure this evidence on your behalf. We’ll handle all the legwork, from navigating legal protocols to sending a spoliation letter for surveillance footage and negotiating with businesses and government entities. By entrusting this task to us, you can focus on your recovery while we strengthen your case. Our knowledge and experience not only maximize your chances of obtaining all available footage but also spare you the complexities and potential pushback you might face doing it alone.

Contact Our New York Accident Attorneys Today

While you could pursue video footage of a car accident yourself, you’re better off focusing on your medical treatment and letting us handle this tricky task. Call Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb today at 800-PAIN-LAW for a free consultation.

Over $500 Million in Verdicts and Settlements

Our track record showcases over $500 million won for our clients. Each victory underlines our commitment to justice and client care. Explore our impact, case by case.

VERDICT

$17,500,000

A Brooklyn jury awarded Mr. Vargas $17.5 million for the City of New York’s violation of his civil rights for failing to provide him medical care while in custody. The jury found that the police officers involved failed to provide the necessary medical treatment and awarded $17.5 million to Mr. Vargas.

VERDICT

$4,730,398

Harris Keenan & Goldfarb partners Seth Harris and Sheri Holland obtained a $4,730,398.00 jury verdict on behalf of our client who tripped and fell at a private apartment building in the Bronx, suffering a broken foot that developed a very painful, permanent neurological condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (“RSD”).

VERDICT

$12,561,772

A Bronx jury awarded John Doe over $12 million for an accident on a construction site. John Doe was working when a piece of scaffold weighing 35 pounds fell, striking John Doe in the lower back. John Doe suffered a herniated disc requiring surgical removal of a portion of the disc and permanent nerve damage.

VERDICT

$10,500,000

A Bronx jury awarded $10.5 million to the mother of Malcolm Ferguson, who was wrongfully shot and killed by the New York City Police Department. The police officer, Louis Rivera, also a defendant in the case, was found to have used excessive force in violation of Malcolm Ferguson’s civil rights as protected under the United States Constitution.

VERDICT

$4,000,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff William Cardoza $4 million for injuries caused by the use of excessive force during an arrest. During the arrest, Mr. Cardoza was pepper-sprayed and repeatedly hit with a police nightstick. As a result, Mr. Cardoza sustained injuries to his hand and finger.

VERDICT

$3,470,670

The firm’s client, a 33-year-old teacher’s assistant, was scalded by an espresso machine that exploded while the defendant’s employee was demonstrating how the machine worked. The client was a customer at the defendant’s coffee shop on the date of the accident and suffered first-degree burns to her right (dominant) hand.

VERDICT

$4,000,000

The firm represented the mother- decedent and her infant son. During the decedent’s admission to the defendant hospital, the defendant dispensed anesthesia during an epidural to the decedent in an inadequate manner. The mother-decedent suffered personal injuries and wrongful death due to the defendant’s failure to properly administer epidural anesthesia.

VERDICT

$3,823,000

Mr.Brennan fell from approximately 25 feet while working on a construction project. He suffered a shattered bone in his right leg requiring surgery and hardware placement. Mr. Brennan also suffered two fractures in his facial bones, and a dislocated finger requiring surgical repair.

VERDICT

$2,750,000

The firm’s client was a child with cerebral palsy who was injured as a result of medical malpractice. The firm’s clients claimed improper management of pregnancy, labor, and delivery resulting in brain damage, and received a Brooklyn personal injury settlement.

VERDICT

$1,677,835

The firm’s client, a 63-year-old mentally incompetent man, slipped and fell in his own urine while attempting to walk to the bathroom at the defendant’s senior citizen home. The client fractured his hip and as a result is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The client claimed that the staff of the home failed to properly care for him, and the jury awarded $1,677,835.

VERDICT

$2,995,000

The firm’s client, a 47-year-old male, slipped and fell on a public sidewalk in the Bronx. It had snowed four to five days prior to the date of the accident, and the sidewalk was covered with ice. The client suffered a lumbar fracture and a herniated disc. The jury found the city liable and awarded the client a $2,995,000 personal injury settlement in the Bronx.

VERDICT

$2,610,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff Luis Molina $2.61 million for injuries sustained when he fell down a subway station stairway. Mr. Molina was caused to slip and fall as a result of a plastic bag that had blown onto the steps from a street opening. As a result of the fall, Mr. Molina suffered a herniated disc and a tear of his right shoulder’s rotator cuff. The jury found that the NYC Transit Authority was liable for the accident.

VERDICT

$2,253,714

A Bronx jury awarded Ms. Colon $2.25 million for a trip and fall accident. Ms. Colon was caused to fall when she moved to the right to allow another pedestrian to pass, and her foot rolled to the outside due to the sidewalk being unlevel with the adjoining grass. The jury found the defendant liable and awarded Ms. Colon $2,253,714.00 for her pain and suffering.

VERDICT

$1,900,000

A Brooklyn jury awarded Arvella Floyd $1.9 million for a fractured wrist which required multiple surgeries, including an open-reduction internal fixation and a carpal tunnel release. Ms. Floyd was injured when the hot water knob of the shower fell off after numerous complaints to the superintendent, and scalding water spewed toward her, causing her to
fall and break her wrist.

VERDICT

$1,350,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff Juanita Young $1,350,000 for injuries caused by the use of excessive force during an arrest. During the arrest, Ms. Young, who is legally blind, was handcuffed from behind, with her children watching, and taken to the top of the stairs to exit the building. The officer proceeded to push her down the stairs multiple times.

What Our Clients Say About Us

david Santiagodavid Santiago
18:05 21 Mar 24
Maria RoqueMaria Roque
20:49 15 Mar 24
Excellent person, very Professional, they assist you in any language, your call is always answered. I recommend you for any case of support you have, your refund is satisfactory. and fast
S SS S
14:09 02 Mar 24
I am completely satisfied, and recommend Harris Keenan & Goldfarb as Attorneys to represent anyone. Their care for me physically, and overall helped me stay strong in spite of my injuries. Always available to answer questions, and inform.They got me Justice, and achieved a substantial outcome for my case.I am very impressed, and thankful for their outstanding performance on my behalf.I am very pleased, and significantly satisfied with their representation.‐-Sherylon Wilkins
Robert LennonRobert Lennon
15:26 21 Feb 24
Patient and diligence is how I describe the effort of HKG the work was thorough, honest and fair, I have no complaints. Special thanks to attorney Blake and his paralegal Thierry.
Gene Matos (fanboye)Gene Matos (fanboye)
18:48 15 Jan 24
I first crossed paths with Seth Harris when serving jury duty many years ago. He was so professional and personable, that when my mom was seeking legal counsel for medical malpractice, I told her she had to reach out to his firm. We had meetings with a few different firms, but Harris Keenan & Goldfarb was the only firm that did not try to get us to sign paperwork before even meeting. They took the time to listen and understand our situation before we signed anything, and they were transparent and responsive the whole time. I would like to give special thanks to Samantha Walton, Marla Stein, Val Wallace and Seth Harris for helping my mom through this tough time. They were honest and upfront, and even though Seth Harris wasn't personally on the case, he took the time to meet with us and give us his thoughts on it.
Solange IsaacSolange Isaac
17:52 08 Jan 24
I am pleased with the services provided by Ms Sheri on my case. The team at Harris, Keenan, & Goldfarb were very nice and explained everything to me. Everything that I had questions on they answered without frustration and were prompt and knowledgeable.6 years ago I had a slip and fall accident at my employers place of business. I reached out to them because I knew that I was being wrongfully treated. They took care of the case, restored my self confidence, and brought so much peace to my problem riddled life.I can recommend without a shadow of a doubt the services of Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb to anyone who is in need of someone who will have your back!
Brittany DempseyBrittany Dempsey
16:02 08 Jan 24
My mother had an accident with her ankle back in 2019. I immediately contacted Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb on the day of the accident. They were extremely prompt and helpful. They attended to my mother's case beautifully and she's been recovering well. I'd like to thank you for being so diligent, kind and above all professional. I'd recommend this law firm to anyone who are injured and in need of legal assistance. My mother, Andrea, and I thank you for everything.
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