Do Insurance Companies Get Footage from Traffic Cameras in Indiana?

Traffic cameras are becoming a common feature on Indiana’s roads. Some people in a car accident might wonder if their accident was captured on camera and whether an insurance company could get it and use it against them.

The reality is that it it can be difficult for an insurance company to obtain footage from a traffic camera or other cameras. The fact is that most cameras do not record continuously and merely capture photos of certain violations. If footage of an accident is captured – whether owned by a state agency, a business, or a private citizen – it will likely not last long. Busy insurance adjusters will also likely not have the resources to track the footage down.

If you were injured in an accident, our Indiana car accident attorneys can help you identify and obtain important traffic camera footage if it exists. Contact Wruck Paupore today at (219) 322-1166 for a free case assessment.

Can Insurance Companies Get Traffic Camera Footage of my Indiana Accident?

While an insurance company could potentially get traffic camera footage of an accident, it is unlikely. Most traffic cameras in Indiana, light red-light cameras and speed cameras, do not record and store footage. If they do, it is typically stored for a very short period of time. It is rare for footage to last longer than 30 days, making it difficult for an insurance company to obtain.

In some cases, an insurance adjuster might not even think to check for traffic camera footage. Insurance adjusters usually work on many cases at once and do not have unlimited time and resources to track down every relevant piece of evidence. However, our Indianapolis car accident attorneys know that cameras can be found in most places today and can help you determine if footage of your accident exists.

What Types of Camera Footage Can an Insurance Company Recover in Indiana?

Extensive surveillance is a fact of life today. The advances in security camera technology have made it affordable and popular amongst both state agencies and private citizens. Thus, your accident could be captured on one of the numerous types of cameras in use in Indiana.

Red-Light Cameras

It is unlikely that an accident will be recorded on a red-light camera. These cameras are intended to capture drivers running the light, taking a picture of the license plate instead of filming the violation. Therefore, the camera would need to take the picture almost precisely when your accident occurred for it to be useful as evidence. If a photo did exist, an insurance company could request it from the agency that owns the camera, which is typically a local law enforcement agency.

Speed Cameras

Speed cameras operate much like red-light cameras and will likely be of little use in proving your case. A speed camera is only intended to take a photo of a speeding driver to capture their license plate, making it unlikely to be useful.

Car Dash Cameras

Cameras mounted onto a driver’s dashboard have become quite common, especially if your accident involves an Uber or Lyft rideshare driver. Dash cameras are designed to record the road ahead and capture any accidents that might occur. Insurance adjusters know this footage is more common and will not forget to request it from the party that owns the camera, as it can quickly settle disputes.

Dash camera footage will be easier to obtain if it is owned by a party involved in the accident. A third party might have captured your accident on their dash camera, but the footage will be difficult to track down if the driver did not stop and give their information.

Private Security Cameras

Nearly all businesses maintain some private security system equipped with surveillance cameras. It is not uncommon for an accident to be captured on a business’s security camera, given the range that some surveillance systems have over a property. A surveillance camera could capture footage of the accident from an angle that makes the cause beyond dispute.

The issue is getting the footage before it is erased. There is no way to know how long a business will keep its surveillance footage without speaking to them, but it likely will be short. Also, a business owner is under no obligation to provide the footage. Our Fort Wayne car accident attorneys can speak with business owners on your behalf to help obtain the footage you need to prove your case.

Police Body Cameras

While police body camera footage will probably not record an accident occurring, it can still be useful to an insurance adjuster who thinks to request it. Most police officers are equipped with body and dash cameras, which are usually activated when an officer arrives on the scene of an accident. Body cams could record important footage of the scene as it appeared after the accident, the damage to your vehicle, and any injuries you sustained.

Home Surveillance Cameras

Like dash cameras, home surveillance cameras and doorbell cameras have become quite common. While it is typically intended to capture footage of package thieves and home invaders, the wide-angle lens on many doorbell cameras could capture particularly good footage of an accident if it happened just in front or near the property.

Again, there is no way to tell how long this footage will last. An insurance adjuster may discover private surveillance camera footage during their investigation. However, our South Bend car accident attorneys can help identify any surrounding properties to determine if there’s footage that could support your claim.

Smartphone Cameras

A person’s smartphone could also have captured important evidence of your accident. Virtually everyone has a smartphone today, and most are not shy about using it to film events they find interesting. If your accident occurred at a busy location, several phones could be focused on you, especially if the accident was serious.

This footage can be vital, so it is important to get witnesses’ information at the scene, if possible. Our Indiana car accident attorneys can speak with private citizens on your behalf to secure their assistance in your case.

Our Indiana Car Accident Attorneys Can Help

If you were injured in an accident, there could be traffic footage that our Hammond car accident attorneys can help you obtain. For a free case review, call Wruck Paupore at (219) 322-1166.