How Video Footage Can Help Your Fort Worth Car Accident Case
An experienced car accident lawyer explains why this evidence matters
When you’re hurt in a car accident that isn’t your fault, the road to recovery can feel long, uncertain, and overwhelming. Medical bills can pile up fast. You might not be able to work. Insurance adjusters start calling. When this happens, evidence can make or break your case – and few pieces of evidence are more powerful than video footage of your crash.
At the Cain Firm, we understand the importance of car accident video footage. We also realize you often need to act fast to obtain such evidence before it’s erased or destroyed. That’s why our Fort Worth car accident attorneys want to meet with you right away.
We can help you obtain all different types of accident videos, including red light camera, dashcam, or surveillance video from nearby businesses. When you have such videos, they can give your case the clarity and credibility it needs to succeed. Videos speak louder than words. And they help you hold negligent drivers accountable for your Fort Worth car accident.
What types of video footage can help after a crash?
Different types of cameras capture different views of an accident, as well as the events leading up to your crash or the immediate aftermath. Here are some of the most common types of videos that could help make your Fort Worth car accident case stronger:
- Traffic cameras: Operated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) or the City of Fort Worth, these cameras are often mounted at intersections or on highways.
- Red light cameras: Though Fort Worth removed its red light camera program years ago, some footage may still exist depending on the crash location or if private systems are in place.
- Dashcams: Increasingly common, dashcams are mounted inside vehicles and can show what happened from the driver’s perspective.
- Security cameras: Gas stations, restaurants, convenience stores, or apartment complexes near the crash may have footage of the collision.
- Police bodycam or dashcam footage: Responding officers often record statements, vehicle positions, and accident details on arrival.
- Cell phone videos: Bystanders or passengers may record the crash or its aftermath.
- Business-related footage: For example, a bar may have video of a visibly drunk person being served more alcohol moments before they got behind the wheel and caused your car crash.
- News video footage: Local television news crews often respond to serious car accidents. Such video footage may present something critical in support of your accident claim.
Each video source offers a different angle and perspective on your accident. Add all these videos up and they often create a complete, clear picture of exactly what happened – and why it’s important to contact a lawyer right away who can locate, preserve and analyze these videos as part of your legal case.
Can I access traffic camera footage in Fort Worth?
You can, but it’s not always easy. The City of Fort Worth no longer has red light cameras that record drivers racing through intersections and ignoring red lights. But the TxDOT still owns and operates traffic cameras, especially on highways like I-30 or I-35 in Fort Worth. Unfortunately, not all of these highway cameras record continuous footage. Instead, the TxDOT may only have still images or brief video clips.
To request such video or still photo footage from the TxDOT, you typically need to file a Public Information Act request. This is a formal process governed by Texas law that gives you the right to ask for records kept by public agencies. Here’s how the process usually works:
- You submit a written request to the agency (such as TxDOT or the Fort Worth Traffic Management Center).
- You must describe the location, date, and time of the crash as accurately as possible.
- The agency has 10 business days to respond, though that doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the footage.
Keep in mind that many cameras don’t record or only store footage for a few days. That’s why acting fast is critical. A Fort Worth car accident lawyer can help make sure your request is filed properly and quickly.
How long is video footage kept in Texas?
As briefly explained above, there’s no set time limit for how long many government agencies or private businesses save car accident video footage. The short answer is it’s often only for a brief period of time. How long this footage is saved often depends on the type of footage and who owns it:
- Traffic cameras: Often not recorded at all, or footage may be overwritten within 24 to 72 hours, especially in cases involving TxDOT highway traffic video footage.
- Private security cameras: Businesses may store footage for 7 to 30 days, depending on their system.
- Dashcams: Most overwrite automatically unless saved manually.
- Police bodycams: Law enforcement agencies generally retain footage longer, but you must formally request it, and restrictions may apply.
- Private cellphone videos: There’s no time limit on how long these videos are saved. Individuals who recorded these videos might erase them in a few hours or days after an accident.
In each case, you need to act fast. The clock often starts ticking the minute your accident happens. That’s why you need a lawyer on your side, looking for such video footage right away. Because once video footage is erased, it’s gone for good.
What if my request for footage is denied?
If a government agency or private owner refuses to provide video footage, don’t give up. You still often have several legal options available to you.
- Ask for a written explanation: If your request is denied, ask the agency to explain why in writing.
- File an appeal: Under Texas law, you may be able to challenge the denial through the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
- Send a preservation letter: This is a formal letter telling the owner of the footage not to delete it. It’s often the first step before legal action.
- Subpoena the footage: A subpoena is a legal order from the court requiring the person or business to hand over the footage.
- File a motion in court: If necessary, your attorney can ask a judge to force the release of the video.
These legal tools are best handled by a qualified car accident lawyer who knows how to navigate the system. Trying to do this on your own – especially while recovering from a serious injury – can be challenging, confusing and frustrating, especially when your request for video footage is denied.
What if someone refuses to share their dashcam or security footage?
It’s frustrating when someone has valuable footage and won’t share it. Maybe a witness won’t cooperate or a business ignores your request. Here’s how we can help:
- Be respectful and specific: Explain what happened and why the footage is important.
- Put it in writing: A written request shows you’re serious and creates a record.
- Let a lawyer handle it: Legal requests from attorneys often get more attention than personal appeals.
- Use a subpoena if needed: If the person still refuses, your attorney can issue a subpoena to force the release.
If the footage is deleted before your attorney can intervene, it may still be possible to recover metadata or use testimony to show what the video contained. But again, time is critical. You can’t sit back and wait for results. You need to be proactive. And that means talking to an attorney as soon as possible.
How do accident reconstruction experts use video footage?
Video can help accident reconstruction experts and video engineers determine exactly how the crash happened – and why the other driver is clearly at fault. Here’s how they do it:
- Pinpoint speed and location: By analyzing frame rates, they estimate how fast each car was going.
- Recreate the crash scene: Footage can be turned into animations or diagrams to explain the sequence of events.
- Validate injuries: Experts can show how the force of the collision caused specific injuries.
- Disprove false claims: If the other driver says something that’s not true, video can help show what really happened.
Insurance companies often dispute fault, but a detailed expert analysis of your accident backed by detailed video footage analysis often leaves little room for what really happened. That’s why our legal team often works with accident reconstruction experts who know how to carefully analyze accident videos to pinpoint the clear cause of the collision.
Why is video so persuasive to insurance companies and juries?
Video evidence makes your story real. Words can be twisted or misinterpreted, but a video clip is hard to deny. Here’s what it can show:
- Who caused the crash: Clear footage can show one driver speeding, running a red light, or swerving into another lane.
- How violent the impact was: Some insurers claim crashes were “minor.” Video proves otherwise.
- Your reaction: Footage may show you trying to avoid the crash or reacting in pain afterward.
- The other driver’s behavior: If they appear distracted, aggressive, or impaired, that can support your claim.
In the hands of the right lawyer, video footage can become a powerful storytelling tool and one that gets results, especially if your car accident claim turns into a lawsuit that’s presented before a judge and jury.
How can a lawyer help find and preserve video evidence?
You don’t have to track down video footage alone. A lawyer can take fast, strategic steps to gain access to such videos before they’re lost or destroyed. For example, an attorney can:
- Identify potential cameras near the crash site (businesses, traffic intersections, ATMs, doorbell cameras).
- Visit nearby businesses in person and ask for footage before it’s deleted.
- Send formal requests or subpoenas to secure the video legally.
- Work with police departments to get access to dashcam or bodycam footage.
- Act quickly to preserve key evidence with documentation and follow-ups.
At The Cain Firm, we don’t just make phone calls – we go out and gather leads, knock on doors, and ask individuals or businesses near the crash site if they have video footage of your crash. We don’t wait to see what happens. We take action. We work hard. We understand how crucial this footage is and work fast to find, preserve, and protect such evidence.
The Cain Firm fights to preserve and use every second of video
At Cain Firm, we take your case personally. If there’s a video that proves what really happened, we’ll fight to find it, preserve it, and use it to your advantage. Here’s what we do:
- Investigate the scene immediately and identify cameras
- File formal requests or legal actions to get the footage
- Use experts to analyze video for maximum impact
- Present video evidence to insurers or courts clearly and effectively
We know Fort Worth. We know the roads, the agencies, and the businesses. And we know how to build a case that gets results based on video footage and other solid evidence. We leave no stone unturned in pursuit of the truth.
Talk to a Fort Worth car accident lawyer today
If you were hurt in a crash caused by someone else, don’t wait for insurance companies to dictate what happens next. Video footage may be the key to winning your case, but such evidence won’t last forever. You need to act fast to find such footage and make sure it’s saved and preserved as part of your legal case.
Get the Fort Worth law firm you can count on in a crisis. Get the Cain Firm. Contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll explain your options, answer your questions, and get right to work. We’re here to protect your rights, pursue compensation and win your case.
Click here for a printable PDF of this article, “How Video Footage Can Help Your Fort Worth Car Accident Case.”