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HomeMedia CentreHow To Request CCTV Footage for A Personal Injury Claim
How To Request CCTV Footage for A Personal Injury Claim

How To Request CCTV Footage for A Personal Injury Claim

Act Quickly to Gather Strong Evidence

If you have been injured in an accident, CCTV footage supplies powerful evidence but often the injured party is unsure about how to request CCTV footage for a personal injury claim. This type of claim for compensation may be made if the accident was someone else’s fault. CCTV footage provides an unbiased account of the accident and is generally regarded as strong evidence.

Whether you were injured in an accident at work, in a road accident, or in a public place such as a shop, CCTV can supply the objective proof you need to support your version of what happened.

We work with personal injury lawyers who can help you with gathering the evidence you need. To find out if you have a claim and what to do next, contact us for a free assessment.

Why CCTV Footage Matters in Personal Injury Claims

CCTV footage provides unbiased, time-stamped evidence that can show exactly how your accident happened. While witness statements and photos are valuable, CCTV carries extra weight because it removes ambiguity. Insurers and courts take video evidence seriously and access to this footage could be the deciding factor in whether your claim succeeds or fails. For example:

  • At work: CCTV may show unsafe conditions, lack of protective equipment, or an accident caused by faulty machinery.
  • In public places: Supermarkets, shopping centres, or local councils often have cameras that may capture slip, trip, or fall incidents and whether necessary signage, such as for wet floors, was in place.
  • Traffic accidents: CCTV from nearby shops, junctions, or even dashcams may provide clear evidence of negligence.

How To Request CCTV Footage

Under the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the legal right to request CCTV footage that contains your personal data. This is usually done through what is called a Subject Access Request (SAR).

Here’s how to make your request:

  1. Identify the data controller: The data controller is the organisation or person responsible for the CCTV system. For example, this might be your employer, the local council, or a shop manager.
  2. Make a Subject Access Request (SAR): You should write to the data controller explaining that you want CCTV footage of yourself from a specific date and time. Provide as much detail as possible to help them locate the footage.
  3. Provide proof of identity: To protect privacy, you will usually need to provide photo ID (such as a passport or driving licence) and proof of address.
  4. Act quickly: CCTV systems often overwrite footage within 30 days, sometimes even sooner. The sooner you make your request, the more likely it is that the footage will still be available.
  5. Understand your rights: The data controller must respond within one month. They may refuse if providing the footage would also reveal other people’s identities, but in many cases, they can blur faces or provide redacted footage.

Who Can Request CCTV Footage if You’re Injured?

If you are too injured or unwell to make the request yourself, someone can act on your behalf. This may include:

  • Your solicitor: If you are pursuing a personal injury claim, your solicitor can request CCTV evidence on your behalf. They will know the correct process and ensure deadlines are met.
  • A family member or trusted representative: You can authorise a family member to make the request for you. They will usually need written consent from you and proof of their identity.
  • Claims management companies: If you are working with a claims management company, they may handle evidence gathering as part of their service.

Having professional support ensures the request is made correctly and increases the chances of retrieving the footage before it’s deleted.

What Happens If CCTV Footage Isn’t Available?

CCTV provides solid evidence, but it’s not the only evidence that can support your claim. If the footage isn’t available, there are other ways to prove what happened:

  • Witness statements: People who saw the accident can provide detailed written statements. Their independent perspective can be persuasive.
  • Photographs and videos: If you or someone else took pictures of the accident scene, injuries, or hazards, this can be used as evidence.
  • Accident reports: Employers and public places are required to keep accident logs. An official report provides proof the accident occurred.
  • Medical records: Hospital and GP records will indicate the nature and extent of your injuries, linking them directly to the accident.
  • Expert evidence: In some cases, accident reconstruction specialists or medical experts may be used to provide professional opinions.

Accident Types and the Role of CCTV

Workplace Accidents
If you suffer an injury at work, such as a fall, machinery accident, or manual handling injury, workplace CCTV may be key. Employers have a duty to provide a safe working environment. However video footage may highlight breaches of health and safety regulations which will prove employer negligence.

Public Place Accidents
When accidents happen in public places such as supermarkets, gyms, restaurants, or council-owned spaces, CCTV is often available. For example, if you slip on a wet floor in a supermarket, CCTV can show whether staff placed warning signs or took reasonable steps to prevent the hazard.

Traffic Accidents
Road traffic collisions are frequently captured on cameras. This could include local authority CCTV, dashcams, or footage from nearby shops and petrol stations. Video evidence can establish liability, such as proving one driver failed to stop at a red light.

Quick Checklist on Getting CCTV Footage

  • CCTV footage can be the most powerful evidence in a personal injury claim.
  • You have the right to request CCTV footage under GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. This can be done through the Subject Access Request (SAR) process. Your solicitor can also help you in this regard.
  • If you’re too injured, a solicitor, family member, or claims company can make the request for you.
  • CCTV evidence is crucial for workplace accidents, public place incidents, and traffic accidents.
  • If CCTV is not available, other strong forms of evidence—like witness statements, medical records, and photographs—can still support your claim.

Need Help With Your Claim?

Requesting CCTV footage may be the difference between a successful personal injury claim and a failed one. Acting quickly, knowing your rights, and getting professional help if needed will put you in the strongest position. Whether your accident happened at work, in a public place, or on the road, don’t delay.

If you’ve been injured and want to know more about gathering evidence for your personal injury claim, we are here to help.

Our team partners with highly experienced lawyers who will assess all aspects of your case and who work on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis, which means no upfront cots for you.

Contact Jefferies Claims today at 0333 358 3034 or complete our online contact form to arrange an initial no-obligation telephone consultation.

 

Jefferies Claims is a claims management company. Jefferies Claims Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN:999104.

Jefferies Claims is a limited company registered in England and Wales under registered number company number 14178076. Registered office Suite 2, Part 5th Floor, Charter House, Woodlands Road, WA14 1HF.

We charge our solicitors for the marketing and operational services we provide and these costs are not passed on to our customers. We receive a fee for any introduction made to a law firm.

Where No Win No Fee service is offered typically customers pay 25% of the amount recovered to our solicitors, although this will be subject to your individual circumstances. If your claim is successful, you will be charged a fee of 25% including VAT. There may be a charge if you cancel your claim outside the 14-day cooling off period.

Please note that calls made to and from Jefferies Claims may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

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