Do you think of traps every time someone mentions speeding cameras?
Photo by Miles Loewen on UnsplashIf so, you’re not alone. Speed cameras often mean there’s a police officer nearby just waiting to give unsuspecting drivers tickets. Even if an officer isn’t in the area, you’re probably still going to end up with a speeding ticket in your mailbox.
While speeding tickets in Alabama are only misdemeanors, they can come with hefty fines. Your insurance rates can also go up. With that being said, there are also benefits of speeding cameras in accident claims. Still not sure if speeding cameras can benefit your accident claim? Here are a few reasons why you may learn to appreciate the traffic cameras.
How Speeding Cameras Can Help Support an Accident Claim
Speeding cameras are typically installed to improve road safety. When drivers slow down, accident rates tend to decrease. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), around 29% of traffic fatalities in 2022 are caused by speeding drivers.
Slowing down makes it easier to control a vehicle and avoid road hazards that can cause traffic accidents. While getting drivers to slow down is the primary reason speeding cameras are installed, it’s not their only benefit.
Contributory Negligence
Like a few other states, Alabama follows both at-fault and contributory negligence standards. At-fault insurance laws are pretty simple to figure out. If you’re involved in a traffic accident, the driver responsible for the collision covers all damages.
So far, everything seems pretty simple. A speeding driver struck your vehicle and their insurance provider is responsible for covering your damages like property repairs and medical costs.
While at-fault laws are self-explanatory, it’s a little different from dealing with contributory negligence standards. Contributory negligence recognizes that more than one driver may be responsible for causing the accident. If you’re assigned some of the blame, you probably can’t file a compensation claim with the other driver’s insurance provider. You’ll need to turn to your insurance policy to recover any damages.
Unfortunately, contributory negligence can also make it harder for you to file a claim with your insurance provider. Depending on policy terms, you may be stuck paying for all accident costs out of your pocket, and this may be where speeding cameras can help.
Most of these traffic cameras are triggered when they sense an approaching vehicle. The camera clocks and records the vehicle’s speed. This information can be helpful if you’re being assigned fault for the car accident.
The insurance adjuster, along with your attorney, can review the footage to see if you’re also guilty of speeding or other driving behavior that may have contributed to the accident’s cause. The footage may prove you’re not partially at fault for the car collision, freeing the way for you to file a personal injury claim.
Provide Supporting Evidence
You can file an insurance claim after a vehicle collision and only include your accident report. At least you’re providing the insurance adjuster with some evidence of the collision but it’s probably not going to be enough. There’s a good chance you’re going to receive a claim denial letter, which will outline the reason/s your claim is being denied, in this scenario, for a lack of supporting evidence.
Your medical records and property repair estimates are necessary to prove some damages. However, what about the accident’s cause? Your accident report, while usually thorough, may be missing some crucial information. The other driver is being named as the at-fault party but your actions may still be up in the air.
Even if there’s just a tiny bit of doubt over whether you may have contributed to the accident can result in a claim denial. If your claim isn’t denied, the insurance adjuster may try to use the lack of supporting evidence as a way to reduce your claim’s value.
Your personal injury attorney can take care of the legal process necessary for obtaining speeding camera footage. The footage can show the events leading up to the accident and help support your claim.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Hopefully, you’re not going to need this information. If you do, it probably means you’re involved in a car accident. While the state doesn’t have the worst record for vehicle accident rates, a car crash was reported every 3 minutes and 38 seconds in 2022 according to the Alabama Department of Transportation.
What you do after a car crash can impact your ability to recover compensation, even if speeding cameras capture the collision.
Check Yourself for Injuries
Even a minor collision can cause injuries. Take a minute to check yourself and any passengers in your vehicle for injuries, and this also applies to individuals in the other involved vehicle. However, if the other driver seems to be moving around without problems and is showing a bit of temper, it’s probably best to keep your distance.
Report the Accident Immediately
Don’t worry about whether you legally need to report the accident. You usually don’t want to wait to file an accident report. Yes, this means remaining at the accident scene until the authorities clear you to leave. While it can be time-consuming, it can also help protect your legal right to file an accident claim.
Answer all questions posed by the responding officers but don’t go into detail. The insurance adjuster is also going to review your accident report and you don’t want your words to be used against you to try and prove contributory negligence. Remember, contributory negligence prevents you from filing an insurance claim.
Mark the Location of All Traffic and Surveillance Cameras
You can’t request traffic camera footage at the accident scene. You must go through a complex legal process, which usually also applies to business and residential surveillance systems. What you can do is write down the location of the cameras. This will make it easier for your accident attorney to request the video footage.
Partner With an Experienced Accident Attorney
Before you start negotiating with the insurance company or you even file your claim, it’s a good idea to partner with an experienced accident attorney.
From helping you file out the paperwork to requesting speeding camera footage, your attorney can take care of the legal work while you focus on recovering from your accident.
