What Is the Role of Surveillance Footage in Personal Injury Vehicle Claims?

When you’re injured in a car accident, every piece of evidence matters. Among the most powerful forms of proof in a personal injury vehicle claim is surveillance footage. Whether it comes from a nearby traffic camera, a business security system, or a homeowner’s doorbell device, surveillance footage can make or break a case by showing exactly what happened before, during, and after a crash.

At Gelman Law, our New Jersey personal injury attorneys know how crucial video evidence can be in proving fault and strengthening your claim. Understanding how surveillance footage works in these cases can help you protect your rights and maximize your recovery.

Why Surveillance Footage Matters in Personal Injury Vehicle Claims

After a vehicle accident, there are often conflicting stories about what happened. One driver might blame the other, while witnesses remember events differently. Surveillance footage cuts through that uncertainty by providing an objective, visual record of the crash.

Video footage can:

• Show how fast vehicles were traveling before the collision
• Capture traffic signal changes or right-of-way violations
• Reveal whether a driver was distracted or speeding
• Confirm weather, lighting, and road conditions
• Disprove false statements or insurance defenses

This type of evidence doesn’t rely on memory or opinion, making it one of the most persuasive tools for proving negligence in a personal injury vehicle claim.

Common Sources of Surveillance Footage in Vehicle Accident Cases

Surveillance footage can come from a variety of places, depending on where your accident occurred. Some of the most common sources include:

1. Traffic Cameras

Many intersections in New Jersey have government-operated traffic cameras. These can capture red-light violations, speeding, and vehicle movement patterns leading up to a crash.

2. Business Security Cameras

Stores, gas stations, and restaurants near roadways often have cameras facing parking lots or streets. These cameras may capture accidents that happen nearby, even if they weren’t intended for traffic monitoring.

3. Residential and Doorbell Cameras

With smart home devices like Ring and Nest, more residential neighborhoods are covered by surveillance than ever before. A doorbell camera can record valuable footage of a crash or of vehicles fleeing the scene.

4. Dash Cams

More drivers now install dashboard cameras to document their own travels. If another driver’s dash cam or your own caught the collision, that footage can be requested and used as evidence.

5. Public Transit and City Cameras

Buses, trains, and other municipal vehicles often have onboard cameras that may record traffic events or collisions from different angles.

How Attorneys Use Surveillance Footage to Build Strong Claims

When handling personal injury vehicle claims, lawyers often start by identifying every possible source of surveillance footage near the accident scene. Time is critical because many systems automatically delete recordings after a short period, sometimes within 24 to 72 hours.

Here’s how an attorney like David Gelman and his team can use surveillance footage to strengthen your case:

• Preserve the Footage Quickly – Your attorney can send formal preservation requests to businesses, homeowners, or government agencies to prevent the footage from being deleted.
• Analyze the Video – Reviewing frame-by-frame details can help pinpoint moments of negligence, such as a driver running a red light or failing to yield.
• Compare with Other Evidence – Footage is matched with police reports, witness statements, and accident reconstructions to create a clear, consistent narrative.
• Use During Settlement or Trial – Video evidence is often presented to insurance adjusters or juries to prove fault and demonstrate the severity of the impact.

In many cases, surveillance footage is the deciding factor that convinces insurers to settle fairly without going to court.

Challenges in Obtaining Surveillance Footage

While surveillance footage is valuable, it’s not always easy to obtain. Some of the challenges include:

• Short Retention Times: Many systems overwrite footage automatically, making quick action essential.
• Privacy Concerns: Private property owners are not always required to share footage unless subpoenaed.
• Limited Access to Government Cameras: Public agencies often require formal legal requests or court orders to release recordings.
• Poor Video Quality: Low-resolution or distant footage can make it hard to clearly identify vehicles or drivers.

Despite these challenges, an experienced personal injury attorney knows how to track down and secure this evidence before it’s lost.

How Surveillance Footage Impacts Liability in a Vehicle Accident Claim

In New Jersey, car accident claims often depend on proving which party was negligent. Surveillance footage can directly influence how liability is assigned.

For example, footage might show that:

• A driver ran a stop sign before hitting you
• A pedestrian suddenly stepped into traffic
• Another vehicle cut you off and caused a chain-reaction crash
• You were driving safely, contradicting claims of fault

Because New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule, even small details can affect your compensation. If you are found to be less than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages. Surveillance footage helps minimize your percentage of fault and strengthen your right to recover.

What If No Surveillance Footage Exists?

Not every accident is caught on camera. If surveillance footage is unavailable, don’t lose hope, as there are still other ways to build a strong case.

Your attorney can use:

• Eyewitness testimony from bystanders or nearby drivers
• Accident reconstruction experts to analyze skid marks and vehicle damage
• Police reports that document road conditions and initial fault assessments
• Medical evidence to link your injuries directly to the crash

Surveillance footage can be powerful, but it’s just one part of a comprehensive personal injury claim strategy.

Why You Should Contact an Attorney Immediately After an Accident

Time is your greatest enemy when it comes to preserving evidence. Cameras continuously record over old footage, and witnesses’ memories fade. That’s why it’s so important to contact a personal injury lawyer right after your accident. 

At Gelman Law, we act fast to:

• Identify potential video sources before they’re lost
• Contact property owners to preserve surveillance footage
• Work with investigators and experts to verify video authenticity
• Negotiate aggressively with insurers using the strongest evidence available

The sooner you reach out, the better your chances of securing the proof you need for a successful claim.

Contact Gelman Law for Help With a Personal Injury Vehicle Claim in New Jersey

If you were injured in a car accident in New Jersey, surveillance footage could be the key to proving what really happened. The legal team at Gelman Law understands how to locate, preserve, and present this critical evidence to build the strongest possible case.

We handle every detail so you can focus on healing. Whether your accident occurred at an intersection, parking lot, or on the highway, we are ready to help you recover full and fair compensation.

Call 856-861-4236 or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free case evaluation. Gelman Law proudly serves clients across South Jersey, including Cherry Hill, Camden, and Delran. 

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.