Video footage can provide valuable evidence after a car accident. A recording from a traffic camera, dashcam, or nearby security camera may help clarify how a collision happened and support an insurance claim.

But how do you obtain traffic camera footage after a car accident? Which agency should you contact? Does every traffic camera record video, and how long might a recording remain available?

In Washington State, the process depends on who operates the camera, whether the system saves recordings, and whether the footage can be disclosed. Some systems provide live traffic views without retaining video for later review. Other recordings may be held by a government agency, law enforcement department, business, or private property owner.

Because some footage may be overwritten or deleted quickly, it is important to identify potential sources and act promptly after a crash.

If you were injured in a collision, Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC (RHHK) can help you understand your legal options. Call 253-383-5388 to discuss your situation.

Why Is Traffic Camera Footage Important After a Car Accident?

When drivers disagree about how a crash occurred, evidence can help establish what happened. Video footage may provide information that is difficult to obtain from witness statements alone.

Depending on the camera’s location, angle, image quality, and recording time, footage may help show:

• The position and movement of vehicles before a collision.
• Whether a vehicle entered an intersection against a traffic signal.
• Possible failure to yield or an unsafe lane change.
• Traffic, weather, and roadway conditions.
• The sequence of events leading up to the crash.
• The presence of pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles.

Video can be useful to insurance companies, attorneys, and other parties evaluating a claim. However, a recording may not show the entire collision or establish fault by itself. It should be considered alongside other evidence, such as photographs, police reports, witness statements, vehicle damage, and medical records.

Where Can You Find Traffic Camera Footage in Washington?

There are several potential sources of video after a car accident. Identifying the right source depends on the location of the collision and the type of camera involved.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

The Washington State Department of Transportation operates traffic cameras to help monitor traffic conditions on state highways and other routes.

An important distinction is that a camera showing a live traffic feed does not necessarily record or retain video. Before submitting a request, determine whether the specific camera system captures and stores recordings that may be available.

You can begin by visiting the official WSDOT website to identify relevant traffic cameras and agency contact information.

If you believe a WSDOT system may have captured your collision, contact the agency promptly to ask whether footage exists, whether it is retained, and what process applies to requesting it.

City and County Agencies

Cities, counties, and local transportation departments may operate traffic monitoring systems, intersection cameras, or other recording equipment. Local law enforcement agencies may also have video or other digital evidence related to a collision.

The agency responsible for a camera depends on its location and purpose. A camera near an intersection may be operated by a transportation department, law enforcement agency, or another organization.

If your accident occurred on a city street or at a local intersection, contact the relevant city or county department and ask whether it operates or maintains cameras in the area.

Law Enforcement Agencies

Police may obtain video during an accident investigation or receive footage from witnesses, businesses, and other sources.

If officers responded to your accident, ask the department how to obtain the collision report and whether video evidence was collected. Access to investigative records may be subject to applicable disclosure rules, exemptions, or restrictions.

A police report does not guarantee that video exists or that the department has a recording from the scene.

Nearby Businesses and Private Property Owners

Do not limit your search to government traffic cameras. Businesses, apartment buildings, parking facilities, gas stations, and private residences may have security cameras that captured some or all of a collision.

If you identify a nearby camera, contact the business or property owner as soon as possible. Explain the date, approximate time, and location of the crash, and ask whether the camera recorded the area.

Private camera systems may overwrite recordings automatically. A prompt written request asking the owner to preserve relevant footage may help communicate the urgency, although it does not guarantee that the owner will retain or provide the recording.

Dashcams and Other Vehicle Cameras

A dashcam in your vehicle or another vehicle may have recorded the crash. Some commercial vehicles and fleet vehicles also use onboard camera systems.

If you have a dashcam, save the relevant recording immediately and follow the device’s instructions for exporting or protecting it from being overwritten. If another driver or witness may have footage, ask whether they are willing to preserve and share it.

How to Request Traffic Camera Footage After a Car Accident

The steps below can help you identify potential sources and make a clear request.

1. Record the Exact Details of the Accident

Before contacting an agency or property owner, collect as much information as possible about the collision.

Useful details include:

• The date of the accident.
• The approximate time, including the time zone if relevant.
• The intersection, road, direction of travel, or nearby address.
• The vehicles involved and their identifying details, if known.
• The police report or incident number, if available.
• The direction a camera would need to face to capture the collision.

Precise information helps the agency or owner determine whether a camera may have captured the incident.

2. Identify Who Operates the Camera

Determine whether the likely camera belongs to WSDOT, a city or county, a law enforcement agency, a business, or a private property owner.

If you are unsure, contact the relevant transportation or public safety department and ask who manages cameras at that location. Do not assume that the agency responsible for the road also operates every camera nearby.

3. Ask Whether the Footage Exists and Is Retained

Before spending time on a formal request, ask whether the system records video and whether a recording from the date and time of your accident remains available.

Some cameras are designed primarily to provide live traffic information rather than create an archive. Other systems may have retention periods that vary according to their purpose and settings.

There is no single retention period that applies to every traffic camera in Washington. Ask the specific agency or owner about its system and retention practices.

4. Submit a Public Records Request When Appropriate

If a Washington government agency maintains the footage, you may be able to request it under the state’s Public Records Act. Whether a particular recording is available depends on whether it exists, who holds it, and whether disclosure restrictions or exemptions apply.

Use the agency’s official records request process and describe the requested footage as specifically as possible. Include the date, time, location, camera direction, and incident number if available.

You can find general information about Washington’s public records law through the Washington State Legislature’s Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW.

A request does not guarantee that the agency has the footage or can release it. If the agency says no recording exists, ask whether another department or system may have captured the location.

5. Ask for Preservation of Relevant Footage

If you believe a recording could be important evidence, promptly ask the agency or private owner to preserve it while your request is being considered.

A preservation request should identify the incident clearly and specify the relevant date, time, and location. Keep a copy of your request and any response.

A preservation request is not the same as a public records request, and it does not guarantee that footage will be retained. If litigation is anticipated, an attorney can advise whether additional steps may be appropriate.

6. Consider Legal Assistance if Necessary

In some circumstances, obtaining evidence may require additional legal procedures. Depending on the situation, an attorney may use formal discovery or seek a subpoena when legally appropriate.

A subpoena is not a universal requirement for requesting public records, and it does not guarantee access to every recording. The proper procedure depends on who holds the evidence, the status of any investigation or litigation, and applicable law.

An attorney can help identify likely sources, evaluate available options, and determine whether additional legal steps are warranted.

How Long Is Traffic Camera Footage Kept in Washington?

Traffic camera retention periods vary by camera system and the organization that operates it. Some cameras provide only live images. Others may store recordings for a limited period, while certain systems may retain footage for longer.

Private businesses and dashcams may also overwrite older video automatically as storage space is reused.

For these reasons, act as soon as possible if you believe video could help establish what happened in your accident. Do not assume that footage will remain available for days or weeks.

When contacting an agency or property owner, ask three direct questions:

1. Does the camera record and retain video?
2. Is footage from the specific date, time, and location still available?
3. What request or preservation process should be followed?

If the footage has already been deleted or the camera did not record, other evidence may still help support your claim.

What If There Is No Traffic Camera Footage?

The absence of traffic camera footage does not automatically prevent you from pursuing a car accident claim. Other sources of evidence may help establish how the collision occurred.

Consider looking for:

• Dashcam recordings from the vehicles involved or nearby drivers.
• Security footage from businesses or residential properties.
• Police reports and collision scene documentation.
• Photographs of the vehicles, roadway, traffic signals, and surrounding area.
• Statements from witnesses.
• Vehicle damage and other physical evidence.
• Medical records documenting injuries.
• Expert analysis or accident reconstruction, when appropriate.

Even when no video is available, a combination of other evidence may help clarify the events leading up to the crash.

How Can Video Footage Help Your Car Accident Claim?

Video can be useful when drivers or insurers disagree about the facts. Depending on what the recording shows, it may help establish:

• Whether a driver had the right of way.
• Whether a vehicle entered an intersection improperly.
• Whether a driver failed to yield.
• Whether a lane change or turn contributed to the collision.
• The positions and movements of vehicles before impact.
• The presence of visible roadway hazards or relevant traffic conditions.

However, a recording may not show the driver’s intentions, the full view of the road, or what happened outside the camera’s field of view. Image quality, timing, camera angle, and missing footage can all affect how useful it is.

Attorneys and insurance adjusters may compare video with police reports, witness statements, photographs, vehicle damage, and other records. A complete evaluation can be particularly important when a recording appears ambiguous or does not show the entire incident.

How Does Comparative Negligence Affect a Washington Car Accident Claim?

Washington follows a comparative fault system. If more than one party contributed to an accident, responsibility may be divided according to the evidence and applicable law.

An injured person’s own share of fault may reduce the compensation available, but it does not automatically prevent recovery under Washington’s general comparative fault rule.

Video footage may help clarify the sequence of events and provide information relevant to fault. However, the recording must be evaluated alongside the rest of the evidence.

Read our article on understanding comparative negligence in Washington to learn more about how shared responsibility may affect an injury claim.

Why Work With a Washington Car Accident Attorney?

Finding, preserving, and evaluating video evidence can be time-sensitive. An attorney may be able to help by:

• Identifying government agencies, businesses, or other parties that may hold relevant footage.
• Helping prepare targeted records requests and preservation requests.
• Reviewing responses about whether footage exists or can be released.
• Evaluating whether formal legal procedures may be appropriate.
• Coordinating video evidence with police reports, photographs, witness statements, and medical records.
• Explaining how the evidence may affect a personal injury claim.

Legal assistance may be particularly helpful if you suffered serious injuries, liability is disputed, or the relevant footage may be deleted before it can be obtained.

RHHK represents people injured in collisions throughout Washington. Visit our car accident lawyers page to learn more about our services.

Get Legal Help After a Car Accident in Washington

Traffic camera footage can be valuable evidence, but not every camera records video, and not every recording can be obtained. Identifying the right source and acting promptly can improve the chance of finding evidence while it remains available.

If you were injured in a car accident in Tacoma, Pierce County, or elsewhere in Washington, Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC can discuss your situation and help you understand your potential legal options.

Call RHHK at 253-383-5388 to request a consultation.

You can also contact our office online to get started.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. The availability and disclosure of video footage depend on the recording system, the agency or person holding it, and applicable law. Reading this article or contacting the firm does not automatically establish an attorney-client relationship.

Frequently Asked Questions About Traffic Camera Footage

Can I request traffic camera footage myself?

Yes, depending on who operates the camera and whether the recording exists and can be disclosed. For government-held records, you may be able to submit a public records request. Private footage generally requires contacting the owner or following another applicable legal process.

How long is traffic camera footage kept in Washington?

There is no single retention period for every traffic camera. Some systems provide live images without retaining recordings, while other systems store footage for varying periods. Contact the operator promptly to ask whether the recording still exists.

Can I get footage from a camera operated by WSDOT?

You can contact WSDOT to ask whether a relevant camera records and retains footage. Do not assume that a live traffic camera provides an archived recording. If footage exists, the agency can explain the applicable request process and any disclosure limitations.

What if a nearby business has security footage?

Contact the business or property owner as soon as possible. Provide the date, approximate time, and location, and ask whether the relevant recording can be preserved. The owner may not be required to provide the recording voluntarily, but an attorney can discuss possible options when the footage is important to a claim.

Can traffic camera footage prove who caused an accident?

It may help establish important facts, such as vehicle movements, traffic signal changes, or right-of-way issues. However, footage may not show everything that happened. Fault is generally evaluated using all relevant evidence and applicable law.

What if the footage has already been deleted?

You may still have evidence from dashcams, private security cameras, witnesses, photographs, police reports, vehicle damage, and medical records. The absence of video does not automatically mean you cannot pursue a claim.

Should I contact a lawyer to obtain traffic camera footage?

You can begin by contacting the relevant agency or camera owner yourself. An attorney may be helpful when footage is time-sensitive, the request is complicated, access is disputed, or the recording may be important to a personal injury claim.