Boston Traffic Camera Archive

An attorney can check for archived traffic footage and review other potential recordings to determine the details of your accident. If you were injured in a crash in Boston, an injury lawyer will investigate all available recordings, including those that are located within the Boston traffic camera archive. RoadProof accepts injury claims and offers an attorney referral option to those who have no representation. The first step of the search is to identify where your crash happened, when it occurred, and at what time.

Next, we must confirm whether usable video exists.
Live camera views do not prove that an accident occurred prior to your collision. The appropriate camera must first be identified. Then the historical availability of that camera must be checked.

Start Your Boston Traffic Camera Archive Search

Do you already have a lawyer? That lawyer will need to call RoadProof to get information on possible video footage. If you don’t have an attorney yet, simply enter the specifics of how you were injured in your car accident via the website link provided above so we can refer you to a licensed personal injury attorney.

We are able to assist with injuries resulting from motor vehicle collisions only. Therefore, we cannot release direct video footage to drivers who are disputing tickets issued by police, nor do we provide video evidence of accidents that result only in damage to vehicles (property), as there must be confirmed coverage at the exact location and date/time of your accident.

Identify the Roadway Before Looking for a Recording

When you are in the area of Boston, a nearby map pin may refer to a surface street, a tunnel, or one of several connecting ramps. In your response to the individual reviewing your video request, please describe the roadway that you used, your direction of travel, as well as where on that roadway the incident occurred (before the tunnel; within the tunnel; after exiting the tunnel).

As an example, Interstate 90 is routed under Boston Harbor via the Ted Williams Tunnel. The Sumner and Callahan Tunnels both carry Route 1A. Using “The tunnel near Logan” does not provide sufficient information to ensure that your search will be directed to the correct location. If you do not have knowledge of the specific roadway name(s) associated with your route during this incident, we recommend preserving a screenshot from your GPS or mapping application, a copy of your trip receipt, or a record of locations captured by photographs. Also include any explanations regarding your uncertainty as opposed to simply providing a guess at a particular exit or intersection.

Understand the Different Sources of Boston Accident Video

The accident may be recorded from the perspective of a traffic cam, an officer’s recording device (police recording), as well as a security system in a local business. Using multiple sources can aid when the damage caused by the accident is not visible.

Live traffic feeds and independent archives

MassDOT directs travellers to Mass511 for live traffic information, which includes views from roadway cameras. Live feed will show what the camera currently shows, but there is no confirmation that this same camera was capturing video of your crash. An archive must have both recorded and saved a history of video for the time period associated with your crash.

Government records and private recordings

If you want to obtain MassDOT records, the agency provides for a Public Records Request Process. In addition to a general request portal, Boston has a public records portal for the police department which allows you to submit a specific request for records related to police activities.

Public records requests are governed by Massachusetts

Public Records Law. Access to responsive documents/recordings will depend upon whether such records exist and/or if any applicable exemptions prevent disclosure. Submitting a record request does not automatically mean that you will receive copies of any recordings.

Additionally, your lawyer may seek out nearby businesses or individuals who were witnesses to the incident to see if they had their own surveillance/dash cam footage. While private videos do not become available based solely on submission of a government public records request, they would still constitute a distinct source of evidence.

What to Include in Your Footage Inquiry

After your safety and medical needs have been met, gather as many specifics as possible for search purposes. Even though it is okay to estimate when you can’t remember an exact detail, do your best to tell us what you are estimating.

• Date and Local Time of Crash: Provide the approximate time window of the crash (if you are unsure exactly what time the crash occurred).
• Location and Direction: Identify the nearest road, intersection, tunnel, on-ramp, or other recognizable landmarks (as well as which lanes were being used by the vehicles involved).
• Describe Vehicle(s): Describe color(s) and type(s), including which lanes they were occupying prior to impact.
  Police Information: Include the name of the police department/agency and their report number (if you have one).
• Preserve Existing Evidence: Take pictures of the area where the accident happened. Document all contact with witnesses. Try to obtain the original trip record or original video file.

The sooner you get this footage, the better. Do not limit yourself to just a brief clip of the actual crash. Include footage of events leading up to and immediately following the collision. These could include lane changes, unexpected stops, a series of crashes, etc.

How Video Can Help When Fault Is Disputed

If there are disputes as to who was at fault for a car accident (ie, which party caused the accident), video footage may be able to clarify what happened. If the dispute centers on which party was negligent; ie, whose actions were the cause of the accident, the attorney representing the client will review the video footage along with any written statements given by witnesses to vehicles involved in the crash, photographs taken of any damage to vehicles involved in the crash, and a copy of the police report regarding the accident.

There are limitations to using video footage. For example, a camera located far enough away to record the accident may have been too far away to capture clearly whether one or both drivers used their cell phones while driving, if either driver failed to obey a traffic control device such as a red light or stop sign at a crosswalk, or if the speed of either vehicle can be determined accurately from the video footage. The fact that a court can determine that one or both parties were responsible for causing the accident does not necessarily mean that all parties involved suffered the same amount of injury.

You do not lose your right to bring a lawsuit against another party based on that other party’s negligence merely because you yourself may have contributed to the accident through your own negligence. However, your ability to collect money for damages sustained in the accident is limited by how much each party was at fault for the accident. Your contribution will be deducted from the total award of damages available for you to receive based upon a percentage.

Therefore, although insurance companies assign fault for accidents and place liability on individuals involved in accidents prior to litigation and/or settlement negotiations, it is still beneficial to investigate disputed issues of responsibility for an automobile accident when an individual is injured in an auto-accident. Representation by counsel will assist in evaluating whether those determinations made by insurers were reasonable and justifiable.

Benefits and Compensation After an Injury

Medical records, financial documents, etc. are as important as video evidence. Your available compensation (benefits) will be determined by your injuries, what is covered under your insurance policy, and the laws that govern Massachusetts.

Personal injury protection benefits

PIP (often referred to as “no-fault” insurance) provides you with some coverage for your medical bills, lost wages due to work, and replacement services (i.e., house cleaning, lawn care, etc.) regardless of who was at fault. You may receive up to 75% of your lost income and/or lost wages. The total amount you may receive from PIP is limited to $8000. Deductible, exclusions, and how your health insurance coordinates with your PIP provider may impact payments. Do not delay calling your insurance company and discussing possible compensation options until after reviewing your video footage.

Pain and suffering claims

In order to recover for your pain and suffering, you need to meet certain criteria if you were involved in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts. Generally, your reasonable and necessary medical treatment costs must have exceeded $2000. Unless one of the exceptions applies, there is no way to prove this requirement simply through review of the video footage.

Exceptions to this rule include: fractures, amputation of a body part, severe permanent scarring, significant loss of vision/hearing, or death. An experienced attorney should review whether or not the exceptions apply, and also assess other factors affecting your case.

Preserve Evidence Before Legal Deadlines Approach

Don’t assume that a camera person or video archivist will store all of their recordings indefinitely. Find out as soon as possible whether there is footage relevant to your case and how you can get it preserved.

In most cases, in order to bring a Massachusetts personal injury lawsuit, you have until three (3) years from when the cause of action occurs to file suit, unless otherwise provided by statute.

Generally, claims made against governmental entities, as defined in MGL c. 258, §2(a), require notice in writing to the appropriate Executive Officer within two (2) years after the incident occurs; additionally, certain formalities must be completed before filing such a claim.

Requesting video footage does not constitute compliance with the notice requirements nor does it toll the statute of limitations deadline. Contact an attorney immediately to determine which deadlines apply and/or if a governmental agency/vehicle was involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly will Boston provide requested video?

The City of Boston states it must respond to your Public Records Request with an initial response within 10 business days. This does NOT mean that the city can produce video footage within this timeframe. It means that the city has up to 10 business days to decide whether the video footage exists, if it needs additional time to locate or produce the video footage, or if the video footage falls under exemptions from disclosure.

Will archived footage automatically be admissible in court?

No. In order for footage to be admitted into Court, the party offering the footage must prove that it is what they claim it is. Additionally, there could be other Evidentiary Requirements that must also be met.

Can I still pursue a claim without a recording?

Yes. There are many different types of evidence that you may use to support your claim, such as witness testimony, photographs, medical documentation, vehicle damage, etc.

Ask About Footage From Your Boston Crash

If you are seeking to learn if there is footage of your crash in Boston, it could be helpful to begin by submitting a request to obtain the Boston traffic camera archive. If you have been injured as a result of this crash and would like to speak with a licensed personal injury attorney about a possible injury claim, we will gladly refer you to one at no cost. If you already have an attorney handling your case, he/she may wish to inquire with RoadProof regarding obtaining any footage that may be relevant to your injury claim.