Some of the strongest evidence a plaintiff may obtain in a civil injury case is video footage of the accident. In many cases, such footage comes from security cameras that recorded the accidents. Unfortunately, obtaining copies of these videos is not always easy.
Security camera footage may be extremely helpful in your civil injury case, depending on what the footage contains. If security cameras recorded the entire accident from start to finish, it may be the key piece of evidence in your case. Some footage may be important because it shows what happened before the accident, shedding light on how the defendant’s actions directly caused the accident and your injuries. An experienced lawyer should help you locate and obtain copies of security camera videos.
Discuss your case in a free legal review with our Texas personal injury lawyers by calling Cap City Injury Attorneys at (512) 612-3110.
How Can Security Camera Footage Help My Injury Case in Texas?
Security cameras are practically everywhere nowadays. If you are injured in an accident in public or inside a store or business, there is likely a camera somewhere recording. Such footage may be very useful if you pursue legal action against the person responsible for your accident.
Footage of Your Accident
Footage of the accident may help us establish certain facts in a way that is difficult for the defendant to dispute. For example, if security camera footage from a nearby business shows that the other driver in a car accident slammed into you while they were clearly using their cell phone, it may be hard for the defendant to argue otherwise. Their negligence is caught on camera.
Condition of the Premises
Security cameras may also shed light on the condition of the premises or the area surrounding the accident before it happened. This is crucial in premises liability cases where a plaintiff was injured because of unsafe conditions on someone’s property. Often, defendants clean up the premises and remove hazards after an injury occurs. As such, security camera footage might be the only record we have of the hazardous conditions.
Identifying People
Security camera footage may help us identify individuals who were present at the time of the accident. If the defendant fled the accident scene, security footage may help us identify them. If we need to locate witnesses, footage from nearby security cameras may help us find them.
Where Do I Find Security Camera Videos to Use as Evidence in an Injury Claim?
Finding security camera footage is not always easy, and our Texas personal injury attorneys may need to investigate before we find any cameras with useful footage.
Exterior Cameras
Many cameras are found outside of businesses and homes. These security cameras may record activity on the property and in the surrounding area. For example, an exterior security camera at a business may record events such as car accidents occurring in the street adjacent to the business.
Dashcams
We may find useful videos from cameras other than security cameras. For example, many vehicles today are equipped with dashcams. These cameras may record everything that happens during a car accident, and we can use the footage in a lawsuit. Alternatively, if a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle equipped with a dashcam, the footage may be used against the driver.
Store Security Cameras
Stores and businesses usually have multiple security cameras. Whether you were injured while shopping in a store or were in the lobby of an office building, there is probably a camera recording you. As such, suing a business for injuries often involves security camera footage.
FAQs About Security Camera Footage and Injury Claims in Texas
Are Security Camera Videos Admissible as Evidence in Court?
Yes. Security camera videos typically meet the requirements established in the Texas Rules of Evidence and may be admissible in court. Both parties must have access to the full footage, even if only portions are used in court.
How Can Security Camera Videos Be Used in a Civil Injury Case in Texas?
Security camera footage may be used in court to show a judge and jury exactly how an accident occurred. These videos may leave little room for dispute and help us reach the truth more quickly.
How Do I Obtain Security Camera Footage for My Civil Injury Case?
How we obtain copies of security camera footage depends on who owns the cameras. If a nearby home or business has a security camera that we believe contains important footage, we can approach them and request copies. If they refuse, we may get a subpoena compelling them to provide the footage. If the defendant owns the camera, we may compel them to provide us with the footage through the discovery process.
What if the Defendant Has the Security Camera Footage I Need?
If the defendant owns the security camera and controls the footage, we may be able to obtain copies through discovery. During this process, each side must provide its relevant evidence to the other. This allows both parties to build the strongest case possible. If the defendant does not turn over security camera footage, we can ask the judge to compel them to do so. If they refuse, they may face penalties.
What Happens if Someone Erases or Deletes Security Camera Videos?
We must move quickly to obtain security camera footage before it is deleted. If it is erased because we did not get to it fast enough, or because video files are routinely deleted, we might be out of luck. However, if we believe someone deleted the videos to prevent us from obtaining evidence, we may raise this with the judge, and the responsible party may face serious consequences.
How Do I Know if Security Camera Videos of My Accident Exist?
We might not know that any videos exist until we start investigating. We should quickly check with businesses and homes near the accident to see if they have security cameras. If your accident happened in a store or business, the business likely has cameras. However, the business is also likely the defendant, and we should contact them to ensure that the security video footage is not mistakenly erased.
Call Our Texas Personal Injury Attorneys for Help Today
Discuss your case in a free legal review with our Manor, TX personal injury lawyers by calling Cap City Injury Attorneys at (512) 612-3110.