Surveillance videos can be powerful evidence in personal injury cases. If you've been injured and believe a video might support your claim, these recordings must be properly authenticated to be admissible in court.
Authentication involves establishing the video's accuracy and reliability. Once verified, surveillance footage can provide crucial visual evidence of an accident, your injuries, or other relevant events, potentially strengthening your case and helping you seek fair compensation.
Why Use Surveillance Footage in an Injury Case?
The most obvious use of surveillance footage is in establishing what events occurred. The video can provide an objective record of events, potentially capturing crucial details that may be disputed or overlooked. This visual evidence can significantly impact the outcome of a case.
Surveillance footage can be used to:
- Establish liability. Demonstrate the actions of parties involved in the accident, clearly showing negligence or fault.
- Document the accident. Capture the sequence of events leading up to and following the incident, providing a clear timeline.
- Assess the severity of injuries. Show the extent of physical limitations and pain, supporting claims of damages.
- Challenge opposing claims. Disprove exaggerated or fraudulent injury claims by revealing inconsistencies.
Surveillance footage can also be used in the following instances:
- When claims are made that the claimant is exaggerating their injuries. The video of the incident can sometimes show how an accident led to injuries. For instance, a slip and fall accident caught on a store’s tape may show that the claimant tripped into a shelf and had goods fall on them, which contributed to a hip fracture. Conversely, the opposing counsel can obtain surveillance footage of the plaintiff engaging in physical activities or work that contradicts the statements about the extent of the injury.
- When there are conflicting statements made. You will be asked to explain what happened and what led to the accident. If you post on social media or tell friends or family that things occurred differently, either side may use surveillance to reveal the truth. As we mentioned, surveillance footage provides an objective viewpoint.
- When medical testimony differs from statements made. During medical testimony, doctors can discuss what your injury is, how it can affect you and your mobility, and the extent of the injuries. If their testimony contradicts what you have said about your injuries or other evidence, the opposing counsel may use surveillance videos from the time and place of the accident or footage of you at later dates.
Let Us Help You Collect Evidence & Build a Case
Law Offices of Charles R. Gueli can help you pursue the following types of claims:
- Wrongful death
- Trucking accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Construction accidents
- Car accidents
- Bicycle accidents
We can help you collect and preserve evidence, including surveillance footage, as well as determine how the evidence can support your claim. Contact us at (516) 628-6402 to get started on your case today.