How Video Footage Can Help Your Massachusetts Car Accident Claim

A Massachusetts car accident lawyer explains what injury victims need to know

Car accidents happen fast in Massachusetts. In an instant, you might be hit from behind by a distracted driver in Boston or struck by a distracted driver in Worcester or Springfield.

In the middle of this chaos and confusion, it’s normal to be overwhelmed by everything happening all around you. Fortunately, there’s often a lot of evidence that clearly shows exactly what happened – and why you’re not at fault.

One of the most important pieces of evidence you can have in support of your car accident injury claim or lawsuit is video footage of your crash. But what types of videos are available? Does Massachusetts have red-light traffic cameras? How do you access them? And how can videos be used to strengthen your legal case?

The experienced Massachusetts car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone explain everything you need to know about car accident video footage and how it can help your injury claim or lawsuit.

Does Massachusetts have traffic camera videos?

Yes. Many cities and towns have installed traffic cameras throughout the state. In Boston, for example, an estimated 1,700 cameras monitor traffic throughout the city. The Boston Police Department maintains and operates more than 1,300 traffic cameras in the city, according to Boston.com. The City of Boston and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) operate the remaining 400 traffic cameras in Boston.

Access to live video footage recorded by many traffic cameras in Massachusetts can be found on the MassDOT website. Video footage from such cameras cannot be used to issue automatic speeding tickets or violations for running a red light. A police officer still needs to directly witness such violations in order to issue a ticket to a driver for speeding or another traffic violation.

However, if you were injured in an accident caused by another driver in Boston or another city, such camera footage could serve as critical evidence in support of your case. That’s why it’s important that you talk to an attorney who can help you obtain video footage of your collision.

What other types of video footage are available for car accidents?

Along with traffic camera footage of your accident, there may be many other types of videos that clearly show how your car accident happened. Such video footage can cover a wide range, including:

Dashcam footage: Many drivers have dashcams installed on the dashboard in their vehicle. These cameras continuously record video from the point of view of the driver and can clearly show the point of impact in real time.
Security camera footage: Many businesses and homes have cameras mounted outside and facing the street. If your collision occurred near such a business or home, the security camera may have captured video of your crash.
Bus camera footage: Many city and municipal buses have several cameras mounted on them and may have videos of your accident.
Bodycam or cruiser dashcam footage from police: Police cruisers and police officers often have numerous cameras recording at all times, especially if a police officer responded to your accident. Such videos will clearly show what the officer saw at your crash site.
Cellphone video footage: Many people constantly record videos using their cellphones, especially if they witnessed your accident.
Parking lot videos: Many parking lots have video cameras mounted throughout the lot. If your collision occurred in a parking lot, security cameras may have captured images of your car crash.

How long is car accident video footage saved?

There is no set time limit for how long cities or businesses save traffic camera footage in Massachusetts. Private businesses in particular do not have to legally save such video footage for a specific length of time. For example, if a business’s security camera recorded your accident, that business can erase such videos anytime they choose to do so.

As for cities or the state of Massachusetts, they might keep video footage longer if an accident occurred at the video location. The common time limit often mentioned in such cases is 30 days from the date of the accident. However, there’s no official deadline for how long municipalities must keep traffic camera footage before erasing such footage.

This is why it’s important for car accident injury victims to request such footage right away after a crash in Massachusetts. Otherwise, someone might destroy such videos. And once they’re gone, such valuable evidence will no longer exist.

Does Massachusetts have to share traffic camera videos?

Yes. The state of Massachusetts must share traffic camera footage with car accident injury victims. It’s public information and should be made available to you.

However, injury victims must formally request such video footage from the state of Massachusetts or cities or municipalities in the state. And as explained above, the state and many cities often only save traffic camera videos for 30 days or sometimes even less.

This is why it’s critical that you submit a formal request right away. In the case of traffic camera footage from cameras operated by the Massachusetts DOT, you will need to submit a public records request on the MassDOT website.

How do I obtain other video footage of my car accident?

Like video footage from municipal traffic cameras, it’s your responsibility to request video footage from other cameras owned or operated by businesses or private individuals in Massachusetts.

Normally, the best way to request copies of such videos is to have your lawyer send a formal request letter. That way, you have your request in writing. Your request will also be recorded on a specific date.

This way, if anything happens and you are unable to obtain such video footage, you will have an official record of your formal request, which could strengthen your case, especially if it goes to trial before a jury.

What if my request for car accident video footage is denied?

Sometimes, some businesses or individuals are reluctant to share video footage of your accident. This is especially true if the at-fault driver has dashcam video of your collision, which clearly shows that the other driver was at fault.

If your request for video footage of your accident is denied, your lawyer can take several different steps depending on what type of camera footage you are trying to obtain. Such steps can include:

Send a letter requesting a written response explaining why your request for video footage was denied.
Take legal action and file a lawsuit against the person or business who refuses to share the video of your accident.
File an appeal with the state, especially if your request for video footage was denied by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. In such cases, you will likely file an appeal with the Supervisor of Records in the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office.

How can video footage strengthen my car accident case?

When you’re trying to prove you didn’t cause your car accident, video footage can make all the difference. It can show exactly what happened and support your version of events. In short, strong video evidence can be one of the most effective tools for building a winning legal case.

Video footage can clearly show the at-fault driver running a red light or failing to yield.
It can prove you were driving safely and following the rules of the road before the crash.
Videos from multiple angles can eliminate doubt about who was responsible.
Footage can capture witness reactions or statements right after the crash.
Videos can show vehicle speeds, road conditions and how the impact occurred.

Without video, it may come down to your word against the other driver’s. But with the right camera footage, the truth is harder to dispute. It’s why experienced car accident lawyers move quickly to secure this kind of evidence and use it to show exactly who was at fault. When used effectively, video footage can give you the edge you need in your case.

How do accident reconstruction experts use video footage?

Accident reconstruction experts use science and technology to figure out how a crash happened. When video footage is available, it can be a key part of their accident analysis. These experts can break down the video frame by frame and provide in-depth insights into your accident, including:

Calculate vehicle speeds based on timing and distance of vehicles in the video.
Identify the sequence of events leading up to and after the collision.
Pinpoint exact location of the vehicles, pedestrians or other objects involved in the crash.
Detect signs of braking, swerving or other avoidance attempts – or none at all.
Confirm or contradict statements made by drivers and witnesses.

This kind of detailed analysis can be used in court to prove your case. Judges and juries often find accident reconstruction testimony backed by video evidence highly persuasive. That’s why many attorneys work closely with accident reconstruction experts. Together, they can use the video footage to build a strong argument that supports your claim.

How do lawyers use car accident video footage in legal cases?

Experienced attorneys know that video evidence can be a turning point in many car accident claims. It allows them to show, not just tell, what happened. That visual proof often makes it easier to obtain the maximum financial compensation you deserve from insurance companies or juries in court. Specifically:

Lawyers use video to prove the other driver was clearly at fault for causing the crash.
They compare the video with the police report to show inconsistencies or missed facts.
Video footage can be used during settlement negotiations with insurance companies to push for full compensation.
If your case goes to trial, videos can be shown to the jury as part of your legal argument.
Attorneys may use still frames from videos to highlight key moments in the crash that clearly show the other driver caused your collision.

With the right video footage, your lawyer can push back against weak defenses or false accusations. They’ll also make sure the evidence is preserved, presented properly and used to support every aspect of your case. In many car accident claims, crash video footage can turn the tide in favor of the injured driver. That’s why experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyers act fast to find and secure this critical evidence.

Talk to a Massachusetts car accident lawyer today

Evidence builds strong legal cases. And one of the strongest pieces of evidence you can have in support of your case is a video of your car crash. This is why Massachusetts car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone will act fast to demand access to all video footage of your crash.

Our lawyers have years of experience successfully fighting for the rights of injury victims in Boston, Worcester, Springfield and other communities throughout the state. That’s why we consistently obtain sizable settlements and verdicts for injury victims and their families – more than $1 billion and counting.

Give your case an edge. Give your case The Salomone Advantage. Schedule a free case evaluation with a lawyer you can trust to work hard for you. Contact us right now. We have offices in 10 locations conveniently located throughout Massachusetts.

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