How Surveillance Footage Can Help Your Pedestrian Accident Case

In many pedestrian accident cases, proving who was at fault can be one of the most challenging parts of a personal injury claim. When it’s your word against the driver’s, evidence becomes essential. One of the most effective pieces of evidence available today is surveillance footage.

Security cameras are everywhere—on streetlights, outside businesses, in parking lots, and on residential homes. These cameras often record valuable footage that can support your version of events. If you’ve been hit by a vehicle while walking, securing this video evidence early can make a big difference in the outcome of your case.

How Surveillance Video Can Strengthen Your Claim

Video footage offers an unbiased account of what actually happened. Unlike witness statements, it doesn’t rely on memory or interpretation. It can clearly show how fast the driver was going, whether traffic signals were obeyed, or if the pedestrian was in a crosswalk.

This kind of evidence can support your claim in several ways:

• Shows the moment of impact: It can prove that you were in a designated crosswalk or that the vehicle failed to yield.

• Verifies the driver’s behavior: Footage can show if the driver was speeding, distracted, or ran a red light.

• Contradicts false claims: If the driver says you “came out of nowhere,” but the video shows otherwise, your case becomes much stronger.

• Confirms injuries: Sometimes, footage can show the severity of the impact, which can support claims of serious injury.

Without video, your case may depend heavily on statements from those involved or limited physical evidence. While that can still be enough, video often adds weight and clarity that’s hard to dispute.

Where to Look for Video Footage

After a pedestrian accident, time is critical. Surveillance footage is often overwritten in a matter of days or weeks. Identifying and requesting access to these recordings as soon as possible is essential.

Here are common sources of video footage:

• Traffic cameras: These are often operated by local governments or transportation departments. While they don’t capture every intersection, they can sometimes show broader traffic conditions or accident sequences.
  
• Private businesses: Stores and restaurants frequently have cameras pointed toward sidewalks or streets. These are some of the most valuable sources of close-up footage.
  
• Residential security cameras: Doorbell cameras and home security systems, such as Ring or Nest, may have caught the incident if it occurred in a neighborhood.
  
• Dashcams: Some vehicles involved—or witnesses nearby—might have dashcams recording. This footage may be especially detailed and useful.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help you identify and contact the appropriate parties to obtain this footage before it’s deleted or lost.

Legal Considerations When Using Surveillance Footage

In Pennsylvania, you generally have the right to use video footage in a civil case, as long as it was lawfully obtained. That means the video must have been recorded in a public space, or provided willingly by the owner of the camera.

However, not all footage is automatically admissible. For it to be used effectively in court or settlement negotiations, it must meet certain criteria:

• Authenticity: It must be proven that the footage is real and unaltered.
  
• Relevance: The footage must directly relate to the facts of your case.
  
• Clarity: Blurry or incomplete video may still help, but clearer footage is always more persuasive.

Attorneys familiar with these requirements can work with experts to properly authenticate the footage and present it in a way that supports your case.

What If No Video Exists?

Sometimes, there’s simply no video of the accident. That doesn’t mean your case is hopeless. Other types of evidence can also be powerful:

• Eyewitness statements: People who saw the accident unfold can describe what happened.
  
• Police reports: Officers typically note the conditions at the scene and initial observations of fault.
  
• Medical records: These can show the severity and nature of your injuries.
  
• Photos of the scene: Pictures of skid marks, crosswalks, or damage to the vehicle can help piece together what occurred.

Still, it’s worth investigating every possible source of footage. Even partial clips—such as the vehicle approaching the intersection—can provide key context.

How an Attorney Can Help You Get the Footage

Time and strategy are everything when it comes to gathering video evidence. An attorney can act quickly to preserve it. This might include:

• Sending formal requests to businesses or homeowners.
  
• Filing subpoenas if the footage is being withheld.
  
• Coordinating with law enforcement or city agencies.
  
• Hiring investigators to canvass the area for additional cameras.

In many cases, injured pedestrians are not in a position to handle this kind of follow-up while recovering. That’s where legal representation becomes especially important. Your attorney can focus on the details while you focus on healing.

Protecting Your Rights After a Pedestrian Accident

If you’ve been hit by a car while walking, it’s important to take the right steps early:

1. Seek immediate medical care.
   
2. Report the accident to the police.
   
3. If possible, take photos or video at the scene.
   
4. Get the contact information of any witnesses.
   
5. Contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

The sooner you act, the better the chances of preserving valuable video footage. Even if you’re unsure whether cameras were nearby, your attorney can investigate thoroughly.

Conclusion

Surveillance footage can be one of the strongest tools in proving liability in a pedestrian accident case. When it’s available and used correctly, it can eliminate doubt, confirm details, and significantly increase your chances of recovering compensation. If you’ve been injured while walking, don’t wait. Consult with a Pennsylvania personal injury attorney who knows how to secure the evidence that matters most.