If you get injured in a car accident, you are probably looking for any evidence that you can find that shows that the other driver was negligent. If you have video footage of the accident, like the recording from an intersection camera, that could be a proverbial slam dunk. While this is not the technical purpose of most traffic cameras, your Middlesex County, NJ car accident attorney can help you secure this footage and any other evidence that can make your case stronger.
How Can an Intersection Camera Help My Case?
Footage from an intersection camera could show the mistakes that led to your accident. If someone was speeding or ignored a traffic signal and then hit your car, this footage could show that. It is usually worth the effort to try and secure the footage from a nearby camera after an accident.
Can a Lawyer Help Me Get the Recording From an Intersection Camera?
A lawyer can make it easier to secure intersection camera footage. In most cases, you just need to make a request to the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Then you can see if that footage strengthens your case.
How Long Do I Have to Sue for Damages After an Accident?
You have just two years to pursue legal action after getting injured in an accident in New Jersey. However, we recommend acting much sooner than that. That intersection camera footage is not going to last forever. If you are lucky, you might have a week before it is overwritten! Such a recording could be a crucial bit of evidence in your case, but you’ll never get the chance to see it if you procrastinate.
What if an Intersection Camera Recording Does Not Help My Case?
In some cases, the intersection camera recording might not help your case. In fact, if you were at all to blame for the accident, the defense might try to use it against you. The state of New Jersey uses comparative negligence, meaning that your awarded damages could be affected if you are found to be partly responsible for the accident.
As an example, let’s say that you sue and win $100,000. However, the jury also determined that you were partly to blame for the accident. They say that the other driver was clearly in the wrong and 80% responsible for the accident, but you also were negligent in some way. If you are found to be 20% responsible for the accident, your awards get reduced by 20%. So you would receive $80,000 instead of $100,000.
Your lawyer is prepared to defend you though. They are ready to build a case that shows that you were the one who was wronged here and that you deserve a fair compensation offer as a result.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
You don’t have to fight for compensation on your own when you make an accident claim. Contact Stathis & Leonardis and schedule a free consultation. We can tell you more about your legal options and what our lawyers can do to assist you in this difficult time.
