The Role of Boston Traffic Cameras in Bicycle Accident Liability

Are you familiar with those black boxes perched above Boston intersections? They’re not just tracking traffic flow – they might be the silent witness that saves your bicycle accident case. At Breakstone, White & Gluck, we’ve helped 100s of Boston area cyclists injured on our roads, and we’ve seen that as cycling continues to grow in popularity across the state, so do the risks. According to CDC data, bicycle crashes that leave cyclists with serious injuries and uncertain futures are on the rise.

When metal meets flesh on Boston streets, cyclists almost always lose. And many quickly discover they need an experienced bicycle accident lawyer to navigate the aftermath. Traffic camera footage has become one of the most powerful tools in these cases if you know how to get it before it disappears.

Boston’s bicycle danger zones

Let’s be honest. Boston wasn’t built for cars, let alone the mix of vehicles crowding our streets today. Some areas of Boston are downright terrifying for cyclists:

• Massachusetts Ave.
• Beacon St.
• Broadway
• Somerville Ave

These notorious stretches combine narrow lanes, aggressive drivers, poorly designed intersections, and inconsistent bike infrastructure to create perfect storms of cyclist vulnerability. Particularly during rush hour, these corridors transform into gauntlets with opening car doors, sudden lane changes and delivery trucks blocking what little bike lanes exist.

Cyclists must remain hypervigilant when navigating these high-risk zones.

Types of traffic cameras in Boston

Boston streets are watched more than most cyclists realize. Different systems capture different angles:

• MBTA surveillance cameras: Covering areas near transit stations and along bus routes, these aren’t traffic cameras per se, but they capture street activity near transportation hubs.
• City-owned traffic management cameras: Boston’s traffic cameras monitor congestion, but these same cameras catch crashes, too.
• Private business security cameras: Banks, convenience stores, and office buildings often have security cameras pointed toward the streets.

The reality? Coverage varies widely. Some intersections have multiple angles, while others have none at all. When a bicycle accident happens, finding the right camera becomes a race against time.

How traffic camera evidence is collected

Here’s where things get frustrating. Most camera recording systems automatically delete footage after a designated time window. Once they do, it may be gone forever.

Massachusetts law doesn’t make preservation easy either. Each camera system has different owners with different rules that apply:

• City cameras require formal requests for footage through multiple departments.
• Private businesses can refuse footage access without a court order.
• MBTA footage needs specific preservation requests.

A good bicycle accident lawyer knows who to contact and how to send preservation letters to protect this evidence.

The legal weight of camera evidence in Massachusetts courts

Traffic camera footage typically qualifies as admissible evidence when properly preserved and authenticated.

But quality matters. Factors affecting admissibility may include:

• Is the resolution clear enough to identify vehicles and movements
• Does the camera offer continuous footage (not just snippets)
• Did the video evidence follow the proper chain of custody
• Does the video have reliable timestamp verifications

Accident claims with video evidence, on average, settle for more than similar cases without video. This evidence is extremely powerful, so working to obtain any videos of your bike accident should be a priority for your attorney.

Beyond traffic cameras: building your case

Smart bicycle accident lawyers don’t rely solely on traffic cameras. The strongest cases combine multiple evidence types:

• Witness statements supporting what the cameras show.
• GPS data from cycling apps revealing speed and movement.
• Medical documentation linking injuries to the specific impact.
• Expert testimony analyzing the footage frame by frame.

Massachusetts follows modified comparative negligence rules, which means cyclists can recover damages even if partially at fault (as long as they’re less than 51% responsible). Favorable video evidence can reduce the cyclist’s assigned fault percentage dramatically.

The difference between 40% fault and 20% fault might mean tens of thousands of dollars. That matters when medical bills are piling up, and you can’t work.

What happens when you hire a bicycle accident lawyer

When you bring a bicycle accident lawyer into your case, they can start taking action to gather evidence and build a compelling argument. Some steps they may take include:

• Sending emergency preservation letters to all potential camera owners.
• Taking site visits to document the accident location from all angles.
• Seeking court orders to compel reluctant businesses to preserve evidence.
• Enlisting the help of technical experts who can enhance and analyze what’s recovered.

The process is time-sensitive. Wait too long, and crucial evidence, like footage showing a driver texting before hitting you, could be gone forever.

Also, Massachusetts gives you just three years to file a bicycle accident lawsuit. Missing this deadline means you lose your chance to file your case.

The bottom line on traffic camera evidence

Boston’s network of traffic cameras isn’t perfect. Gaps in coverage exist. Technical glitches happen. But when footage is properly preserved, it can become an unbiased witness that is immune to intimidation or misremembering.

For injured cyclists, camera evidence can sometimes make or break a claim.

If you’ve been hurt while cycling on Boston’s streets, don’t wait. Contact us at Breakstone, White & Gluck today for a free consultation before that critical footage vanishes. Our bicycle accident lawyers know Boston’s streets, the camera system, and how to preserve evidence before it’s too late. We’ve helped numerous cyclists get the compensation they deserve after life-changing accidents.