Bellevue Traffic Camera Archive

A lawyer can find out if there is video footage from the Bellevue traffic camera archive for the time and place you were injured in a Bellevue car crash. RoadProof has an attorney referral service and provides professional access to archived recordings. While there was likely a road camera at the location where you crashed, the existence of a camera does not mean there is any usable footage.

The first step in searching for archived video footage will be to provide us with the date of the accident, approximate time of day, name of the intersection or cross street where you crashed, and your direction of travel. This information will allow us to limit our search to the specific recording(s) that would include your vehicle’s movement.

Start Your Bellevue Traffic Camera Archive Inquiry

If you are currently working with an attorney, ask them to reach out to us at RoadProof regarding video that may be available. If you were in an accident and do not have an attorney representing you, please complete the inquiry form on our website so we can refer you to a licensed personal injury attorney.

The process of searching for injury-related crashes is what our individual search process provides. As such, we will not provide video from a traffic camera directly to individuals who are searching for it solely for purposes of defending themselves against a citation, nor do we provide video when there was no injury involved as a result of the accident (only property damage).

You can get some additional information regarding our Washington state traffic camera footage. Please note that even though this is for a Bellevue accident, the camera(s) you’re looking to obtain footage from must be reviewed by RoadProof to determine whether they have available footage for that specific camera, date, and time.

Choose the Right Bellevue Camera Resource

A search on the Internet may take you to a live traffic map, an old research resource, or a commercial archive. Each of these will provide answers to different questions; therefore, you should verify which type of resource you are accessing prior to assuming it has information about your accident.

The city traffic map shows current conditions

City traffic maps will allow you to see current traffic conditions. This includes city streets via the City of Bellevue’s traffic conditions page and highways in the area via the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). While a Bellevue traffic map may be able to assist you with identifying a nearby camera, it does not determine whether or not there was a past recording of the event.
Document both street names and approach to the intersection. A camera that captures a crosswalk may not capture the turn lane or length of road where the collision occurred.

WSDOT monitoring cameras are a separate system

According to WSDOT, they do not save or store video from their intersection and freeway camera networks. Therefore, when making a request to WSDOT for footage from their intersection and freeway cameras, they will most likely tell you that they did not record anything that would be helpful for your case.

Your attorney will need to contact the independent service provider that possibly obtained the feed to confirm that there is a recording of relevance.

Traffic Enforcement Images Have Different Restrictions

The red light or speed enforcement camera may not be looked at in the same way that other publicly available accident archives are. There are restrictions on the public’s ability to obtain the images and identifying information created by Washington’s automated traffic safety cameras under state law.

You need to tell your lawyer which type of camera you saw, if you know. The lawyer will determine whether a traffic enforcement video feed, a private company’s security camera footage, or a witness’s dashcam footage could provide better evidence.

What to Gather After Your Accident

First, gather information to keep yourself safe and get medical treatment. Once you’re able, save the information that will be useful for finding where the accident occurred and distinguishing this incident from all other traffic incidents.

• Time and Date: Give the local time (if possible) and indicate if the time provided is an estimate.
• Location: Provide street name(s), directions in which vehicles were traveling, and whether the accident occurred at an intersection or near one.
• Vehicle Movement: Describe whether you were turning, driving straight, stopped, or changing lanes.
• Identifiable Details: Record the color(s) of involved vehicles, type(s) of involved vehicles, and/or police report # (if assigned).
• Evidence: Save photos taken, contact numbers/addresses of witnesses, the original video file(s) from your dashboard camera, and any trip documents related to your accident.
  Photographs, messages, calls, and even photos of your phone screen may help you narrow down the estimated time frame. If you cannot provide an exact time, clearly label your estimate and do not represent it as a fact.

As soon as possible, ask about retention. The length of time that different sources retain data varies. Additionally, knowing when the statute of limitations expires does not inform you on how long a recording will be retrievable.

How Footage Can Help With Fault and Compensation

Video evidence will be able to assist in determining who was at the intersection first, in what lane the vehicle was traveling in prior to a collision, or what occurred just prior to the unexpected stop by a motorist. Additionally, it can provide additional background information if a police officer’s accident report or an insurance company’s determination is based on limited accounts of events.

It should be noted, however, that video evidence (like all other forms of evidence) requires careful consideration. A video camera that has an obstructed view of the area where a collision occurs may not capture the initial contact between two vehicles; likewise, an image taken from a great distance away may not be sufficient for establishing such things as the speed of one of the involved parties, the color of traffic signals, and/or whether either party was distracted while driving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request records directly from Bellevue Police?

Yes. Bellevue Police will accept your record request for records that exist and are identifiable. This could include photos, videos, or collision reports related to specific law enforcement cases, as long as they do not violate legal limitations on how much information can be disclosed.

Your request to the police department would not necessarily mean they have footage of all collisions recorded by a traffic camera. Your lawyer should assist you in identifying which records are worthy of being requested.

Will a recording automatically be accepted in court?

No. In Washington State, there is an expectation of proof that the documents presented as evidence by the party presenting them are genuine.

Save the original file(s) along with documentation of the origin of those files so your lawyer can determine if the document is authentic and meets requirements for being allowed into the courtroom.

What if no camera captured the impact?

Even if there was no camera capturing the actual accident, there may be additional supporting evidence (witness statements, photos taken at the accident site, vehicle damage, etc.) for a plaintiff’s claim. There may also be evidence (video showing the approach or aftermath of the incident), although this will likely not provide evidence of the collision itself.

Ask About Evidence From Your Bellevue Crash

You first need to provide as much detail about your crash before starting a traffic camera archive inquiry. If you were hurt, you can submit that information via RoadProof to inquire about an attorney referral, or ask your current lawyer to reach out to us regarding which (if any) recordings may be available.

Include the city/county where the incident occurred, date of incident, approximate time, and whether you currently represent yourself.