How Video Footage of Your Toronto Car Accident Can Help Your Claim

A Toronto car accident lawyer can build a strong case for compensation

Toronto car accidents caused by other drivers happen all the time. Roughly 50,000 car crashes happen each year in Toronto, according to annual accident data collected by the Toronto Police Service. Add in other surrounding communities in the Greater Toronto Area and car accidents occur at an alarming rate in the GTA.

When these accidents happen, injury victims often face months of recovery and significant accident-related expenses, including medical bills, lost income, and vehicle repairs. In order to obtain the compensation injury victims deserve, they need to act fast to protect their legal rights. And one of the best ways to do that is to gather evidence that clearly shows what happened. That’s why video footage of collisions is important.

So how do you obtain such videos? Which ones are available? And what if your request for video footage of a Toronto car accident is denied? What legal options do injury victims have? These are extremely important questions. That’s why our law firm wants to help. Our Toronto car accident lawyers at Smitiuch Injury Law know how the legal system works in Ontario and we’re here to help.

Common types of Toronto car accident video footage

When you've been hurt in a car crash caused by someone else, video footage can be one of the strongest forms of evidence to support your claim. The right footage can clearly show what happened, who was at fault and how you were injured. But not all videos are the same. Different sources can provide different views of the same accident. For example:

Red light camera footage: Many intersections in Toronto have red light cameras (RLC) that automatically detect and capture videos of drivers who run a red light in an intersection.
Traffic camera footage: Fixed cameras at busy intersections often capture the moments leading up to and during a crash, helping show who had the green light or who ran a red.
Dashcam footage: Many drivers use dashcams, which can provide a clear view of the road ahead or behind, depending on camera placement, and often also record audio.
Security camera footage: Businesses or homes near the crash site might have outdoor security cameras that caught the collision from a different angle.
TTC or bus camera footage: If the accident happened near or involved public transit, footage from a Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bus or streetcar may capture helpful details.
Bodycam or cruiser dashcam footage from police: If police responded to the crash, their body camera or dashboard video might show what officers saw and heard at the scene.

A Toronto car accident lawyer can help identify and request the right video evidence quickly before it’s deleted or recorded over. These cases often depend on acting fast and knowing where to look. Your lawyer can also work with video experts to enhance blurry footage and confirm exactly what happened during the crash. Don’t assume the video will speak for itself – having a lawyer explain what it shows and how it supports your case is often the key to success.

How long is car accident video footage saved?

Video footage from car accidents isn’t saved forever. Many systems automatically delete or record over footage within days or weeks. That’s why it’s so important to act quickly if you think a video (or videos) could help your case.

Many Toronto traffic cameras, for example, often only keep footage for 72 hours unless it’s requested sooner. Dashcams may record over old footage within days depending on storage limits. And many businesses only keep surveillance footage for one to four weeks.

A Toronto car accident lawyer can act quickly to request and preserve these recordings before they’re lost forever. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the better your chances of saving important video evidence.

How to access Toronto red light camera footage

Red light cameras (RLCs) are placed at many busy intersections in Toronto and can be helpful in car accident cases. These cameras take photos and sometimes video when a vehicle enters an intersection after the light has turned red. If the other driver ran a red light and caused your crash, red light camera footage may help prove it.

To request this footage, you need to contact the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services or the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, depending on who owns and operates the camera. This can involve filing a formal access to information request. You may also need to provide the date, time and location of the crash.

Obtaining RLC traffic video footage in Toronto can be a slow and complex process. A Toronto car accident lawyer at our law firm can file these requests on your behalf and follow up to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. We also know how to respond if your request is denied or delayed. Time is critical, so don’t wait too long to speak with a lawyer if you think red light camera footage exists.

What happens if my request for traffic camera footage is denied?

Sometimes, requests for traffic camera footage get denied or delayed. But even if that happens, you still have options. You can:

File a formal appeal through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request: If your first request is denied, you may be able to appeal through the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
Have your lawyer contact the agency directly: Legal requests carry more weight and may lead to a faster or more complete response.
Seek alternative footage from nearby businesses or homes: A lawyer can canvas the area to find other cameras that captured the crash.
Use witness statements or expert testimony to fill in gaps: If video footage is missing, your lawyer may bring in witnesses or accident reconstruction experts to help prove your case.
Request video from police if they responded to the crash: Police bodycam or dashcam footage may still be available, even if traffic camera footage isn’t.

Don’t give up if one type of video isn’t available. A skilled car accident lawyer in Toronto knows how to find other evidence and keep building your case.

How do I obtain access to other types of accident video footage?

Getting access to helpful video footage often means knowing where to look and who to ask. This isn’t always easy to do on your own, especially if you're injured and trying to recover video footage from a business or an individual. A Toronto car accident lawyer can handle this process from start to finish. Such steps often include:

Sending legal requests to nearby businesses: A lawyer can formally request video from stores, gas stations and other locations that may have captured the crash.
Contacting homeowners with doorbell or security cameras: Many homes in Toronto have video doorbells or outdoor cameras that record the street.
Requesting video from public buses or TTC vehicles: If the crash happened near a transit vehicle, the TTC may have recorded footage.
Asking witnesses if they recorded video: Bystanders may have taken video on their phones at the time of the crash.
Working with video experts to enhance or clarify poor-quality footage: Lawyers can hire experts to improve the quality of the footage and make it more useful for your claim.

A lawyer knows how to preserve this footage before it's deleted, and how to make sure it’s admitted as evidence if your case goes to court.

What if someone refuses to share video footage of my crash?

Sometimes, businesses or individuals refuse to share video footage of your crash, the events leading up to it or shortly afterwards. When this happens, don’t give up. You still have options. And in many cases, a Toronto car accident lawyer can help you demand access to the footage and protect your rights. A lawyer can:

Send a formal demand letter: A lawyer can write a letter requiring the person or business to preserve and share the video.
Get a court order if necessary: If someone still refuses, your lawyer may ask a judge to issue an order forcing them to turn over the footage.
Prove the video exists through witness testimony: Witnesses may be able to confirm that the footage was taken, even if you don’t have it yet.
Use other evidence to strengthen your case: If the video can’t be retrieved, your lawyer will rely on photos, witness statements and expert analysis.
Explain to the court why the footage matters: Your lawyer can argue that someone’s refusal to share the video is suspicious and that it should be considered when deciding your claim.

With a skilled lawyer on your side, you won’t have to deal with these situations alone.

How do accident reconstruction experts use video footage of collisions?

Accident reconstruction experts are trained to figure out exactly how a crash happened. When they have video footage, they can do even more to help strengthen your accident claim. Their work can make a big difference in tough cases where fault is disputed. An expert can:

Analyze vehicle speeds using frame-by-frame footage: Experts can calculate how fast each vehicle was going at the time of the crash.
Measure distances and angles based on video details: Footage helps experts map out where each vehicle was before, during and after the crash.
Examine the timing of traffic lights or signs: Experts can determine whether the other driver had time to stop or avoid the crash.
Identify who had the right of way: Using video, experts can help prove whether someone broke traffic rules or was driving carelessly.
Create 3D animations of the crash: Experts can turn video footage into a clear visual presentation for court or insurance negotiations.

A lawyer can hire the right expert and make sure their analysis is clear, accurate and backed by solid evidence.

How can a lawyer use car accident video footage to strengthen my case?

Video footage can be one of the most persuasive pieces of evidence in a car accident claim. But it needs to be handled properly to make a real difference. That’s where a lawyer comes in and works with you to build the strongest possible legal case. A lawyer can:

Find and secure the video quickly: Lawyers know where to look and how to make sure important video isn’t erased or lost.
Use the footage to prove fault: A lawyer can highlight moments in the video that show the other driver made a mistake or broke the law.
Work with experts to explain the video: If needed, a lawyer can bring in professionals to interpret the footage and add credibility to your case.
Show how the crash affected you: Video can show the severity of the crash and how badly you were hurt, making your claim for compensation stronger.
Present the video in settlement talks or court: A lawyer knows how to use video to convince an insurance company or jury that your claim is valid.

With the right legal help, video footage of your collision can make the difference between a denied claim and a successful case. A Toronto car accident lawyer can make sure the footage is used the right way, at the right time, to demand the results you deserve.

Discover what our Toronto car accident lawyers can do for you

Don’t underestimate the complexity of your Toronto car accident. Even if video footage exists of your collision, there are many steps you need to take to obtain that video and use it effectively as part of your car accident claim or lawsuit.

Our experienced car accident lawyers at Smitiuch Injury Law have years of experience building strong legal cases based on solid video evidence. As a result, we won’t waste any time requesting video footage and analyzing it as part of our comprehensive case-building approach.

Give your accident claim or lawsuit the best opportunity for success. Contact us and schedule a free consultation. We handle car accident claims throughout Ontario and have three offices conveniently located in Toronto, Brantford and Simcoe.

Click here for a printable PDF of this article, “How Video Footage of Your Toronto Car Accident Can Help Your Claim.”