How to check for nearby camera footage after a crash

Nearby businesses, homes, parking facilities and passing vehicles may have cameras facing the road. A nearby property is only a possible source — its presence does not mean a camera exists or that it captured the collision.

Act promptly

Many camera systems overwrite old recordings automatically. Write down the collision date, the best time range you know, the direction of travel and the part of the roadway that would need to be visible.

Identify a short list

Look for properties with a plausible view of the approach, intersection or parking area. A gas station canopy, storefront, hotel entrance, parking garage or apartment driveway may be more useful than a business that is merely close on a map.

Ask for preservation, not a conclusion

Politely ask a manager, property owner or security office whether a camera may face the roadway and whether footage for the relevant time can be preserved. Do not say that a property definitely recorded the crash, and do not ask anyone to decide who was at fault.

Keep the investigating agency informed

If a possible recording exists, give the location and contact information to the investigating police or CHP office. The agency, an insurer or legal counsel may need to make the formal request for a copy.

Stay on public property

Do not enter private areas, interfere with staff or attempt to access a camera system yourself. Record who you contacted and when.

Street-level and place imagery on CrashGuide is only location context. It may have been captured before or after the collision and does not prove that a camera or recording exists.