Traffic camera footage can provide important evidence after a car accident. Georgia has an extensive network of cameras across highways and major roads. These cameras allow officials to monitor traffic and provide live feeds to the public. However, if you want a copy of traffic camera footage after an accident, it is not as simple as requesting it from the Georgia Department of Transportation. The state does not store these videos because it would require too much data storage and staff resources.
Even though you cannot get footage directly from DOT cameras, there are other ways to collect video evidence. An experienced car accident lawyer can help identify sources that could support your claim.
Why Georgia Does Not Record Traffic Camera Videos
The Georgia DOT uses cameras primarily to monitor real-time traffic conditions. Drivers can see live streams on their phones or computers through Georgia 511, which helps plan travel routes. The DOT does not save the video because recording all cameras continuously would take a huge amount of storage and staff time to respond to requests.
This means that after a crash, you will need to explore alternative sources for footage to support your case.
Other Sources of Traffic Camera Footage
Even if DOT cameras cannot provide footage, there are several other places to look. Video recordings from these sources can help show exactly what happened during a collision.
- Dashcams: Many drivers now have dashcams installed. If another driver, a witness, or even responding police officers had a dashcam, it might have recorded the accident.
- Home Security Cameras: Residential cameras, including Ring or other doorbell cameras, often capture traffic activity on nearby streets. Homeowners are usually willing to share footage when asked.
- Business Surveillance Cameras: Stores, banks, and other businesses near the accident may have exterior cameras that recorded the crash. Acting quickly is important before these recordings are deleted.
- Cell Phone Footage: Bystanders may capture video at the scene of an accident. Even recordings not meant to capture the crash could provide valuable information.
Using Camera Footage as Evidence
Video evidence can be very helpful in car accident cases. Many collisions involve disagreements over who had the right of way or how the crash occurred. Footage can provide an objective view of the event and help confirm or contradict witness statements.
Camera footage can also support other types of evidence, such as:
- Accident scene photos and videos
- Police crash reports
- Eyewitness testimony
- Accident reconstruction reports or expert analysis
Because memories can be imperfect, video evidence can fill in gaps or clarify conflicting accounts. This can help lawyers and insurance companies understand what really happened.
Georgia’s EPORTS System
The Georgia Department of Public Safety runs an online system called EPORTS. It allows people to request public records prepared or stored by law enforcement agencies under the DPS. You can request crash reports, incident reports, and citations through this system. Some reports also include accident scene photos or dashcam footage from responding officers.
Working with a lawyer can make it easier to access these records. Lawyers know how to submit requests properly and obtain the information needed to build a case.
How to Obtain Additional Camera Footage
Getting video from private sources can take time and patience. Here’s how the process generally works:
- Home or Business Cameras: Contact the owner directly and ask if they can provide footage from the hard drive.
- Other Drivers’ Dashcams or Cell Phones: You may need to reach out to the driver or bystander and request the video.
- Legal Requests: If you cannot get footage voluntarily, a lawyer can request it during a lawsuit’s discovery phase.
It is important to act quickly because many cameras overwrite older recordings. Asking for footage promptly increases the chances of obtaining it.
Timing Matters
Evidence can disappear quickly. Dashcams and security cameras often save only a limited amount of video before recording over it. Witness memories fade over time, so interviewing them quickly is important.
Additionally, Georgia law generally gives you two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you are pursuing damages from a government entity, the timeline can be shorter. Acting early ensures there is enough time to gather evidence and build a strong case before filing a claim.
Get Legal Help With Our Car Accident Lawyer
Obtaining traffic camera footage in Georgia can be challenging, but there are many other ways to collect evidence after a crash. Dashcams, security cameras, cell phone recordings, and records from the DPS EPORTS system can all help. Timing is critical, so gathering information as soon as possible is important.
If you were involved in a car accident, a lawyer can help request records, collect video evidence, and build a strong case for your claim. Call B’Ivory LaMarr Trial Lawyers at (877) 438-7243 for a free consultation to discuss your options and start gathering evidence for your case.