- September 10, 2024
- Tucker Law
- Personal Injury Lawsuits
New York City, the “City That Never Sleeps,” is also a place that never stops moving. With an ever-increasing number of vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians sharing the road, officials have their work cut out for them when it comes to keeping everyone safe. Traffic cameras and red-light cameras are among the tools the authorities use to preserve order on the bustling streets of the Big Apple.
If you’ve been in an accident that involved a red-light violation or similar infraction by the at-fault driver, there’s a good chance a camera will have recorded it. This footage could prove valuable in your pursuit of compensation.
In this post, we delve into the various details of the law in this area and how they may affect you.
Different Types of Cameras Used to Enforce the Rules of the Road
Before going any further, it’s important to establish that there are different types of cameras used to monitor driver behavior and road conditions in New York City. There are important distinctions between these camera types in terms of what they look for and how they operate.
Traffic Cameras
Traffic cameras are primarily used for monitoring traffic conditions on highways and major roads. They help in managing traffic flow, observing congestion, and providing real-time traffic updates to both traffic management authorities and the public.
These cameras are managed by different agencies, including the Department of Transportation, the NYPD, and certain local authorities.
Speed Cameras
The New York City government has a speed camera program as part of its Vision Zero campaign. The cameras use radar and laser technology (similar to that which police officers use) to apprehend speeding motorists. Speed cameras can capture images of speeding vehicles and their license plates and send these to a DOT technician for analysis.
Red Light Cameras
Red light cameras have been in operation in New York since 1994, making the scheme the oldest of its type in the nation. They use sensors in the roadway to detect red-light violations by drivers at intersections; when the sensor is activated, a camera takes a picture of the offending vehicle, and this picture is assessed by a DOT agent. If there has been an offense, the driver is fined $50.
Using Traffic Camera Footage to Succeed in Your New York Car Accident Lawsuit
So, if a car runs a red light and T-bones you, can you use footage from a nearby camera as evidence to help prove your case?
Accessing traffic camera footage to prove a personal injury case related to a car accident is generally possible, but it involves several legal and procedural steps. Your attorney will need to submit a request with the local authority in charge of the relevant camera, and there may be a number of steps involved in this process.
The first task is to identify the right authority. Most of the cameras we’ve discussed here are administered by the Department of Transportation, so your lawyer will need to find a representative of this office and liaise with them to access the footage. In other cases, cameras are maintained by the NYPD or other local authorities.
If the defendant in your case has been handed a red-light violation ticket, this might help your case. While red light camera tickets are civil infractions, not criminal charges, a red-light violation can be used as evidence in a car accident lawsuit if it’s determined to be a contributing factor in the collision. On the other hand, it’s possible to succeed in proving negligence on the part of another driver even if they don’t pick up a civil penalty for running a red light or breaking another type of rule.
If you’re not sure how the rules are likely to apply in your case, it may be a good idea to schedule a free initial consultation with a lawyer who has experience in this area.
Camera Numbers at Intersections to Increase in New York City
Earlier this year, it emerged that New York City officials plan to drastically increase the number of red light cameras in operation at intersections in the Big Apple. At the time of writing, there are around 150 such cameras in place across New York; the proposal currently on the table would see that number increase to 1,325.
Officials believe strongly in the effectiveness of red-light cameras when it comes to making intersections safer; the news report cited above reveals that the number of red-light violations at the locations with cameras has dropped 77% on average since the launch of the program in 1994.
Other Video Evidence of Negligent Driving
Traffic cameras and red-light cameras aren’t the only potential source of valuable video evidence on the road. Others include:
- Dashcam footage: Dashcams have become increasingly popular in the United States in recent years. Even if the cars involved in the accident don’t have dashcams installed, there’s a good chance a camera on a nearby vehicle may have captured what happened.
- CCTV: According to a 2023 study published by Comparitech, New York is the North American city with the highest number of CCTV cameras per square mile. If you have a crash in the city, there’s always a good chance one of those cameras will have picked it up.
- Mobile-phone footage: If onlookers take videos of your accident, it may be possible to use this footage as evidence. This is one reason why it’s so important to speak with eyewitnesses at the scene of any accident and collect their contact information if possible.
Of course, collecting video evidence is only half the battle. You also need an experienced car accident lawyer to interpret the evidence and use it to build the strongest possible case.
Work With a New York Car Accident Lawyer Who Will Fight for Your Rights
Traffic and red-light cameras may be controversial in some quarters, but there’s no doubt that they can make it easier to hold negligent drivers to account. If you’ve fallen victim to another road user’s carelessness and you think the incident might have been captured by a traffic camera, you may be able to use this as evidence.
To learn more about your potential entitlement to compensation and strategies for seeking it, schedule a free initial consultation with Tucker Lawyers today. You can reach us via our webform or by calling (516) 399-2364.
Managing Attorney John. J. Tucker, Esq.
John has personally handled thousands of clients who were victims of another’s negligence and fights relentlessly for their rights. John enjoys bringing closure to a client’s matter so that the injured party can move forward with their life. His background enables him to evaluate complex liability related claims and bring resolution to claims in a record time frame. [ Attorney Bio ]