The use of traffic camera evidence is increasingly changing accident cases in California. While witness testimony can be helpful, it’s not always reliable. And some witnesses may not want to testify. The emergence of traffic cameras at intersections or on highways is now offering valuable insight into how a car accident unfolded.
The Purpose of Traffic Cameras
Traffic cameras serve a variety of different purposes. Some are designed to manage traffic so that traffic signals can be adjusted or traffic conditions can be monitored. Others support law enforcement, such as speed or red-light cameras. There are also safety cameras, like the Caltrans Pilot Program, which installed nearly 200 cameras in the Bay Area to improve safety. More recently, governor Newsom installed speed cameras on a section of the Pacific Coast Highway to deter speeding.
The Types of Traffic Cameras
The types of traffic cameras include:
• Red light cameras are used at red light intersections. They typically record about 12 seconds of footage.
• Speed cameras are used to monitor the speed of vehicles. The camera is activated when a vehicle goes above the designated speed limit.
• School bus cameras are used to monitor children's safety as they enter or exit school buses.
Why Traffic Camera Evidence Is Important for Accident Litigation
One of the most challenging aspects of an accident is determining who's at fault. If there are no witnesses, it often disintegrates into a "he said, she said" scenario. In other cases, a driver may flee the scene and be impossible to track down. That's where traffic camera evidence can be invaluable.
Provides an Objective Account of the Accident
Camera footage offers an objective view as it simply captures events as they happened in real time, without interpretation or bias. Unlike witness statements, which may be influenced by memory, the position of the person, or emotion, camera footage becomes a neutral third-party observer. Furthermore, camera footage is a powerful piece of evidence in court because it doesn't rely on memory.
Helps to Identify the Cause of the Accident
Traffic camera footage can also identify the cause of the accident. If two drivers disagree about who's at fault, camera footage can reveal crucial details, such as speeding, running a red light, or failing to stop at a stop sign. It can also show evidence of bad weather conditions, such as heavy fog or slippery roads. One of the most valuable uses of traffic camera footage, though, is identifying a vehicle in a hit-and-run accident. This footage can then be used in court to hold the responsible party accountable.
Traffic Camera Evidence Can Help with Personal Injury Claims
Although traffic cameras were not specifically designed to help with accident litigation cases, they are proving to be particularly useful. In fact, speed cameras could result in a spike in personal injury claims as drivers are finding reliable camera footage a valuable tool to prove their cases. In addition, insurance companies will be forced to settle claims quickly given the irrefutable evidence.
Limitations of Traffic Camera Footage
While traffic camera footage often provides crucial evidence and can help determine who's at fault in a car crash, it does have its limitations. Traffic cameras don't run continuously. They capture short bursts of footage or are triggered when a traffic violation occurs, such as a driver running a red light or speeding. This means they may miss critical moments of the accident.
Another limitation is that camera footage captures only the exterior of vehicles. They don't capture what's happening inside the car, such as whether or not a driver was distracted by a cell phone.
Lastly, traffic camera footage is not stored indefinitely. In California, traffic camera footage is stored between 30 and 90 days, which means there is a limited window to secure the footage.
