When someone is injured on another person’s property, proving negligence is not always straightforward. Property owners and businesses often deny responsibility or argue that the victim was careless.
Because of these common disputes, surveillance cameras have become one of the most critical tools for uncovering the truth. Footage from security systems, doorbell cameras, or nearby businesses can provide an objective record of what happened. In Louisiana premises liability cases, surveillance video may be the difference between a property owner’s denial and a victim’s successful recovery of compensation.
How Surveillance Footage Strengthens a Claim
Surveillance footage can do more than show how an accident occurred. It provides real-time evidence that may reveal unsafe conditions and the property owner’s failure to address hazards. For example, a video may show that a spill was left unattended for hours in a grocery store aisle or that broken lighting in a parking lot created unsafe conditions that led to an assault. By capturing details that witness testimony may miss, surveillance evidence often gives courts and juries a clear view of the dangerous circumstances that caused an injury.
Examples of what surveillance footage can show include:
- The length of time a hazardous condition existed before the accident.
- Whether employees or property managers were aware of the hazard.
- How the victim entered or moved through the property before the incident.
- Third-party criminal acts that occurred because of negligent security.
- The immediate aftermath of the accident and the property owner’s response.
This type of evidence carries significant weight because it is unbiased and difficult to dispute.
Challenges in Obtaining Surveillance Footage
Although surveillance video can be critical, obtaining it is not always easy. Businesses and property owners may be reluctant to release footage that could expose them to liability. In many cases, surveillance systems automatically record over old footage after a short period of time, sometimes within days. This makes acting quickly essential after an accident.
Our experienced attorneys can send a preservation of evidence letter to property owners, requiring them to retain footage that may be relevant to a legal claim. If the footage is intentionally destroyed after such a request, courts may impose sanctions or instruct juries to assume the video would have been unfavorable to the property owner. Understanding these procedures is key to ensuring valuable video evidence is not lost.
Using Surveillance Footage in Court
Once obtained, surveillance footage must be authenticated and appropriately presented in court. Our attorneys often work with experts to analyze video, highlight key moments, and connect the evidence to legal arguments about negligence. Footage may be combined with other forms of evidence, such as witness testimony, maintenance records, or police reports, to build a comprehensive case. When used effectively, surveillance video can clearly illustrate the dangerous conditions, leaving little doubt about the property owner’s responsibility.
Protecting Victims of Premises Negligence in Baton Rouge
Dangerous premises can lead to devastating injuries, from slips and falls to assaults caused by poor security. For victims, surveillance footage can provide the proof needed to overcome disputes and hold negligent property owners accountable. The key is acting quickly and working with an attorney who understands how to secure, preserve, and use video evidence effectively.
At Russell Law Firm, our East Baton Rouge Parish personal injury attorneys are experienced in investigating premises liability cases and uncovering evidence that supports our clients’ claims. We work tirelessly to ensure that victims have access to the truth and the compensation they deserve when unsafe property conditions cause serious harm.
Contact us today at (225) 217-2518 or online for a free consultation.
The Russell Law Firm is in Your Corner, and We Fight to Win.
Information furnished herein is only general and not a substitute for personalized legal advice. Any discussions and photographs herein depict no actual event or scene but merely a dramatization.