Key Takeaways
- Accident reconstruction applies engineering, physics, mathematics, on-scene measurements, and vehicle data to determine what caused a collision. These findings can help establish liability when fault is disputed.
- Investigators examine skid marks, car damage, debris patterns, surveillance video, witness accounts, and event data recorder information to determine how the collision happened.
- Reconstruction begins with documenting the crash scene, followed by analyzing the evidence, creating computer simulations when appropriate, and preparing an accident reconstruction report.
- Personal injury attorneys and insurance companies may use reconstruction reports to evaluate liability, resolve disputed facts, negotiate settlements, and prepare for litigation.
- Judges and juries may review reconstruction testimony, diagrams, photographs, simulations, and other exhibits together with police reports, medical records, and eyewitness testimony when deciding personal injury cases.
When you’ve been in a car accident, determining the cause isn’t always easy. Not only do all the motorists involved have their own version of what happened, but even the evidence itself can be conflicting. How fast was everyone driving? Is it possible that the brakes failed? What was the impact speed?
It’s a frustrating situation that needs to be resolved before you can file your claim for compensation. At Harris Velázquez Gibbens, we work with accident reconstruction specialists to establish what happened. In this article, we’ll explain how these professionals recreate the moments leading up to the motor vehicle collision and help determine who may be liable for your injuries.
What Is Accident Reconstruction?
Accident reconstruction is the analysis of crash evidence to determine how the collision happened. Investigators apply engineering principles, mathematics, physics, and vehicle dynamics to examine the actions of the vehicles before, during, and after impact. The examination begins at the crash scene, where investigators document the evidence such as the following:
- Tire marks
- Skid marks
- Gouge marks
- Debris patterns
- Roadway conditions
- Presence of traffic control devices
- Damage to each vehicle
They may also review the following when assessing driver behavior:
- Event data recorder information
- Surveillance recordings
- Dash camera footage
- Law enforcement reports
- Witness statements
By comparing these sources, accident reconstructionists can identify the impact points, trace the movement of each vehicle, estimate speed, and assess the actions that contributed to the crash.
Why Is Accident Reconstruction Important?
Drivers involved in a serious accident aren’t always honest about what happened, and responding police officers may not have witnessed the collision themselves. Accident reconstruction helps fill those information gaps by evaluating measurable evidence. This scene analysis can identify driver actions, vehicle movements, impact locations, braking distances, and other facts that help explain how the collision occurred.
Establishing Fault
One of the main purposes of accident reconstruction is establishing fault. For example, an investigation may determine that a driver failed to yield the right of way, exceeded the speed limit, crossed the centerline, followed another vehicle too closely, or failed to stop in time to avoid a collision. They may also identify contributing factors such as limited visibility, roadway conditions, mechanical issues, or traffic signal timing. These findings can help personal injury lawyers and insurance adjusters evaluate liability.
Resolving Disputes
Accident reconstruction also helps resolve disputes when drivers, passengers, or witnesses provide conflicting accounts of the same event. In many cases, there are no independent witnesses or admissions of fault. By examining physical evidence together with electronic vehicle data and other variables, an accident reconstruction expert can support a stronger conclusion.
Accident Reconstruction in Different Types of Accidents
Car Accidents
Accident reconstruction is frequently used in car accidents because even minor differences in speed, braking, or steering can affect how a crash occurs. For example:
- Skid marks and tire marks help estimate vehicle speed, braking distance, and the direction of travel before impact.
- The damage to each vehicle can reveal the angle of the collision, the force involved, and the location of the initial contact.
- Modern vehicles may contain event data recorders that capture information such as vehicle speed, brake application, accelerator position, steering input, seat belt use, and airbag deployment immediately before a collision.
Accident reconstruction experts will also examine debris patterns, paint transfer, broken glass, and roadway markings to compare physical evidence with eyewitness testimony and police reports.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles respond differently to braking, steering, and changes in roadway conditions. High travel speeds can also spread debris over a larger area, making it necessary to document the scene carefully before vehicles or other evidence are moved. With these collisions, accident reconstructionists focus on evidence like the following:
- Tire marks
- Debris patterns
- Damage to the motorcycle and other vehicles
- Helmet damage
- The rider’s final location
- Traffic cameras and dashcam videos
- Event data from other vehicles involved in the collision
Truck Accidents
The size and weight of commercial vehicles like big rigs and delivery vans can affect how they move on the road and respond during a collision. With truck accidents, investigators usually examine skid marks, vehicle damage, debris fields, and the condition of the truck’s braking system to determine how the collision occurred. They may also review:
- Event data recorder information
- Electronic logging device records
- Onboard communication systems
- Maintenance records
- Inspection reports
- Cargo documentation
- Driver logs
Bus Accidents
The size and weight of a bus influence its stopping distance, turning movements, and the force generated during impact. Passenger movement inside the bus may also provide evidence about how the collision occurred and the severity of the crash. With these investigations, accident reconstruction experts pay special attention to:
- Skid marks, debris fields, and other roadway conditions
- Onboard camera footage
- Electronic vehicle data (when available)
Passenger seating locations, standing passenger positions, and reported injuries may also help show how the bus’s occupants moved during the collision. Investigators compare this information with driver statements, witness interviews, and collision scene measurements to determine vehicle speed, braking, steering actions, and the sequence of events leading to the impact.
How Is Accident Reconstruction Performed?
Accident Scene Investigation
Accident reconstruction starts at the crash scene, where the reconstruction team documents road conditions, debris patterns, final positions of the vehicles, and more. The team also takes measurements, photographs, and video, and, in some cases, aerial images using drones.
Data Analysis
Next, the reconstruction experts compare information from the scene with evidence like vehicle inspections, event data recorder information, dash camera footage, police accident reports, and repair records when relevant. Engineering calculations and vehicle dynamics are then applied to estimate vehicle speed, braking distance, steering actions, impact angles, and the movement of each vehicle before and after the crash.
Simulation
Computer simulation software creates the crash using information gathered during the investigation. The resulting model can illustrate vehicle paths, braking distances, steering inputs, impact angles, and the sequence of events leading to the collision.
Reporting
The final stage is preparing a written report that explains the methods used, the measurements taken, the calculations performed, and the conclusions reached. Reports may include diagrams, photographs, scene measurements, computer illustrations, and references to records reviewed during the investigation.
How Accident Reconstruction Is Used in Court
When a personal injury case proceeds to litigation, attorneys for both sides may present accident reconstruction to support or challenge claims about how the crash happened. The analysis can help address disputed issues such as negligence, liability, vehicle speed, or the sequence of events leading to the impact. Rather than relying only on conflicting testimony, the court can also consider engineering calculations, scene measurements, and electronic vehicle data together.
The professional who performed the analysis may testify about:
- The methods used
- Measurements collected
- Calculations completed
- Opinions based on the evidence
During cross-examination, both sides have the opportunity to question the witness about the methods used, the supporting documentation, and the basis for each opinion. They may also present evidence like photos, diagrams, and computer simulations to help the judge and/or jury understand what happened.
FAQs About the Role of Accident Reconstruction in Personal Injury Cases
Can Accident Reconstruction Help if There Were No Witnesses?
Yes. Accident reconstruction can definitely fill in information gaps when there are no witnesses to the accident other than the participants. Investigators examine physical evidence left at the scene as well as surveillance recordings, photographs, and police reports to develop a timeline of the collision.
Even when no one witnessed the crash, these sources can provide information about vehicle movements, braking, steering, and the point of impact, helping explain how a collision occurred when firsthand accounts aren’t available, or the parties involved disagree about what happened.
How Soon Should Accident Reconstruction Begin After a Crash?
Accident reconstruction should begin as soon as possible because valuable evidence can disappear over time. For example:
Skid marks can vanish relatively quickly, especially in certain weather conditions.
Debris is usually cleared up fast to get traffic moving again.
Surveillance and security footage is routinely overwritten.
Weather conditions and traffic can also change the appearance of the crash scene. Beginning the investigation promptly gives reconstruction professionals a better opportunity to document roadway conditions, inspect the vehicles involved, obtain electronic vehicle data, and preserve other evidence before it is lost.
Does Every Personal Injury Case Need Accident Reconstruction?
No. Many personal injury claims are resolved without the need for reconstruction. However, it may become valuable when liability is disputed, multiple vehicles are involved, conflicting accounts exist, or questions remain about vehicle speed, braking, or the sequence of events. A personal injury attorney can review the available evidence and determine whether reconstruction would provide useful information for your claim.
Questions About Accident Reconstruction? Speak to a Hillsboro Car Accident Lawyer
Accident reconstruction is important because it combines investigative science with physical evidence to ascertain how and why a crash happened. When your car accident lawyer works with a specialist, they can make your personal injury claim even stronger.
If you’ve been injured in a preventable accident, call the experienced personal injury team at Harris Velázquez Gibbens. We work with accident reconstructionists to help establish liability and obtain the evidence needed to support your claim. To learn more or to schedule a free and confidential consultation, contact us at 503-610-4398 or fill out our online contact form.
