Accident Reconstruction

Overview

Lawyers who generally handle accident cases frequently need experts who can reconstruct the scene of the accident. These experts try to imagine the scene of the accident and then prepare a reconstruction of the same. The main factor for the cause of the accident is the operational factor. Information including photos, skid marks, roadway factors, and laws of physics are used to examine the dynamics of the collision.

The most important evidence required are physical evidences like photographs measurements of the scene often taken by police investigators at the scene in fatal and catastrophic injury cases. A diagram can be constructed showing the impact and rest positions.

The evidences used

There are various evidences used to reconstruct an accident scene. The most important factors that are useful in the accident reconstruction of the accident scene include:

Roadway Factors: these factors correspond to the environment of the road where the accident has taken place. The road is analyzed and this examination includes the roadside design, construction materials, wear, cross-slope, the frictional properties, width, horizontal and vertical curvature, super-elevation, maintenance, ride quality, average daily traffic, traffic mix, designed use, and structural integrity. This is the most vital aspect of the accident reconstruction scenario. The document holds a lot of importance in most crash reconstruction cases. Most often the road itself is a causative factor in the accident.

Pavement and Shoulder Conditions: if the pavement and shoulder conditions are bad and not up to the mark then they can be a very big factor in the occurrence of an accident. If there are potholes, bumps and if the pavement is rough or the pavement edge drops-off then these can lead to accidents as these conditions make it difficult for the driver to driver. There are set of standards according to which the roads have to made and the department should follow these set rules to ensure safety of the citizens who are driving.

Friction Evaluation: the friction is the resistance caused due to the movement of two objects. This factor plays a major role in the reconstruction procedure as the friction that is produced converts the kinetic energy into heat and this results in noise and deformation and damage of the materials. The examination of this cause can help the expert determine the speed of the car as in most of the incidents friction is between the road and the tire of the car, conversely it is also present in metal to pavement contact, and metal to soil contact in turn over collisions and in motorcycle pre- and post- collision route.

Weather Conditions: these conditions are generally mentioned in

the police reports. This factor can also be clarified from the local newspapers and the weather department. These condition help ascertain it was the slippery or wet roads affect that caused the accident. Road setting is decisive in determining the drag and speed at the time of the accident.

Lighting Conditions: The light conditions at the time of the accident also play a key role in the reconstruction especially if the accident has occurred at night. Mostly people are overconfident about their night vision and often the light of the headlight is not enough to look out for the loopholes that might cause the accident. The materials used in the construction of the roads are such that they reflect the light in different directions and this effect has a very significant effect on the vision of the person who is driving. The lighting, headlights and not to forget the atmospheric moisture as well as the moisture inside the vehicle compile up to resolve whether the objects on the road are visible or not. Walkers get hit mostly at night due to the poor visibility or the road is not sufficiently lit or the victim is wearing dark clothing. In this cases it can be determined that the driver could not have seen the pedestrian until it was too late. The pedestrian can see the car, while the driver cannot see him.

Driving Histories: if the driving record of the person is checked then this can be of help in establishing the liability and poor skill.

Traffic signals and Signs: if the traffic controls are analyzed then it can also be of help. It is important in cases where the driver has either ignored or has not seen a sign or signal. The accidentreconstruction professional can set up the timing in seconds of the delay between a set of lights turning red and the other turning green. Whether the sight was blocked and the position of the signs is also useful. Acquiescence with state and federal policies and compliance with the rules can be determined in a collision case.

Guard Rails, Crash Cushions and Utility Poles: the accident reconstruction professionals analyze the designs of various guardrail systems, median barrier systems, breakaway roadside objects and crash cushion.

The Category of Accidents

If there is an accident where two cars are involved then both the vehicles are examined for the extent for damage and the contact match points are determined, which disclose exactly how the vehicles made contact and this aids to create the angle that existed between the two cars at the time of the crash. This angle and the separation angles can be used to verify the speed of cars at collision.

When the accident involves pedestrians then the skid marks can be exacted to help establish the vehicle's speed and the halting distance. If these skid marks are not determined it can be tricky to determine the speed, but the total distance the pedestrian traveled can be helpful. The summit of a leg fracture can be helpful in determining whether the car was braking at the time of crash.

The accident reconstruction scene plays a major role in solving accident cases. These create the actual scene and can determine the cause as well as which party involved in the accident was at fault.