Setareh Law
June 1, 2026
California’s roads have a speeding problem, and the state has responded with one of the most significant traffic enforcement tools in its history. Assembly Bill 645 — California’s automated speed camera law — launched a pilot program in 2024 that began issuing citations in select cities in early 2025. While the law is primarily a traffic enforcement measure, it has real implications for personal injury claims when speeding-related crashes occur in camera-monitored zones.
At Setareh Law, our attorneys have helped injured Californians navigate auto accident claims for over 60 years of combined experience. With more than $250 million recovered for our clients and a commitment to staying current on every law that touches California roadways, we are prepared to help victims understand how this new enforcement landscape affects their right to compensation.
What AB 645 Does
AB 645, authored by Assemblymember Laura Friedman and signed into law in 2023, authorizes a five-year automated speed camera pilot program in six California cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, and Long Beach. The first cameras went live in San Francisco in early 2025. The program focuses cameras on high-injury networks — the small percentage of streets responsible for the majority of severe and fatal crashes — as well as school zones and street-racing corridors.
Cameras issue civil penalties to the registered owner of any vehicle detected traveling 11 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit. The program includes income-based fine reductions to address equity concerns. According to a September 2025 research brief from UC Berkeley’s SafeTREC, the program incorporated several national best practices including data-driven site selection and warning-notice periods before penalties began. The program is set to expire on January 1, 2032.
How Camera Evidence Changes the Liability Equation
When a speeding driver causes an accident in a camera-monitored corridor, the liability picture can shift significantly. Why speeding is so dangerous on California roads is well-established in both science and law — higher speeds mean longer stopping distances, greater crash forces, and far more severe injuries. When camera data confirms a driver was traveling well above the speed limit, that evidence can be compelling in a civil claim.
How camera records strengthen a victim’s case
Camera data from AB 645 systems creates a timestamped, objective record of a vehicle’s speed at a specific location. In a personal injury claim, this type of evidence can corroborate eyewitness accounts, contradict a defendant’s denial of fault, and support arguments about the severity of the impact. Speed violation records can also demonstrate a pattern of reckless behavior if the same driver was previously cited in the same area.
Understanding how fault is determined in a California car accident is the foundation of any injury claim. Camera evidence does not automatically resolve liability, but it removes the ambiguity that often allows at-fault drivers to minimize their role in a crash.
Comparative Negligence and Camera Data
California follows a pure comparative negligence system, meaning damages are reduced proportionally based on each party’s share of fault. How California’s pure comparative negligence rule affects a car accident case is central to understanding what camera evidence can and cannot do. If a camera confirms the at-fault driver was traveling 25 mph over the limit, that record makes it significantly harder for insurers to assign a meaningful share of fault to the injured party — which protects the full value of the claim.
Conversely, if an injured party was also speeding or behaving negligently, that information can be used to reduce their recovery. Why speed matters in the outcome of a car accident applies to all parties involved, and an attorney will evaluate all available evidence — including camera data, witness accounts, and physical evidence from the scene — to build the strongest possible picture of what occurred. Thorough evidence gathering after a California car accident remains essential, as camera records alone rarely tell the complete story of a crash.
Contact Setareh Law After a Speeding-Related Accident
California’s speed camera program is still new, and its role in civil litigation is actively developing. Injured victims who were hurt in crashes involving speeding drivers in camera-monitored areas may have access to powerful evidence they are not aware of — but accessing and using it effectively requires legal knowledge. Setareh Law handles every case on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no upfront cost and no fee unless we recover on your behalf. With eight office locations across California and home visits available, we make it easy to get answers quickly.
If you were injured in an accident involving a speeding driver, do not wait to take action. Contact Setareh Law today for a free consultation with our experienced team.
