Traffic accidents rely on he said, she said statements. In the heat of the accident, you may think you know how everything occurred. You may even remember the events in a specific way. However, if there were working traffic cameras taking footage of your accident, you may be in for a rude awakening. The cameras may also confirm your story. As you pursue an auto accident lawsuit and look for auto accident lawyer services, you will need to consider the following facts.
Studies Have Shown That Witness Memories Are Flawed
Time and again, studies regarding witness memories have shown that witness memories are flawed. This includes people who are involved in an accident. In some cases, two people in the same car "remember" completely different details about the accident! Both you and your lawyer need to take this into consideration when you are presented with traffic camera footage and what you initially reported to the police in regards to your accident.
Camera Footage Does Not Lie
Yes, camera footage can be doctored, but when it comes to the traffic cameras that belong to the police and the state government, it is illegal to doctor the footage. That said, camera footage of your accident does not lie. You need to be ready to see the accident all over again, from outside of your vehicle.
The footage can either corroborate the police report and what you remember, or it can completely blow the proverbial lid off of your case. If the latter happens, your case may be thrown out, and your telling of the accident discredited. You need to brace yourself for whatever the footage shows and accept the fact that flawed human memory may be to blame.
Of course, the reverse is also true. The footage could prove what you said and confirm what you remember. The footage can also verify the police report and make it solidly valid in a court of law.
It Is Best to Secure and View the Footage Prior to Filing Your Lawsuit
You cannot ask for the traffic camera footage from the day of your accident. However, your lawyer can. He or she can get the footage from the police, and then both of you can view it together in the lawyer's office. It is a very good idea to view this footage before moving ahead with the filing of your lawsuit. Doing so protects you from potential humiliation or validates what you remember.
For more information, contact a company like Petersen Sage Graves Layman And Moe.
Share17 July 2018
When I started my first small business, I had no idea how much I really didn’t know. I was fully prepared to deal with customers, sell product and even handle complaints and returns. What I wasn’t aware of was that there is so much more to it. I was lacking the legal expertise to protect the company and myself. I wanted others to benefit from my experience, mistakes and lessons learned, so I started this blog. From employment law to the legal business contracts you’ll have to sign when you form partnerships, business law is complex. I hope that the information here will help you to be better prepared when you start your business so that you’ll know when you need to call an attorney and when you can handle things yourself.
