When an accident occurs, the people involved may not remember the actual events. Sometimes, there are even different accounts of what happened. “It was so fast!” and “Where did that other car come from?” are two of the most common statements made at the scene of an accident.
You must contact an accident reconstruction expert as soon as possible to investigate the accident and develop a strong case in your favour. Soon, you will see why contacting a professional engineer and reconstructing an accident can help you with risk management and legal matters.
Breaking Down an Accident Reconstruction
The field of accident reconstruction falls under the category of causation forensics that involves determining how and why a crash occurred – first by accurately interpreting the clues left by the remaining physical evidence of the accident, and then by reconstructing and analyzing what happened before, during, and after the accident.”
In other words, accident reconstruction studies the circumstances leading to motor vehicle collisions. Both government agencies and private companies hire accident reconstructionists to help determine the cause of crashes involving a wide range of cars (from recreational vehicles to heavy trucks).
In a car crash, accident reconstruction can be critical in determining why the accident occurred and who was at fault. Accident reconstructionists, in effect, work backwards; i.e., they document and analyze evidence at the scene of the accident to draw conclusions about the cause of the accident and how it happened.
Some of the variables that could have contributed to the accident include:
- Speeding
- Running stop signs and red lights
- Turning and lane change errors
- Loss of control because of the failure of a car part or a vehicle defect
- Lack of road safety conditions
- Visibility concerns
The collision reconstruction group can provide written reports and 3D models to show how the event happened. These 3D models are frequently used as evidence in accident cases that end up in court.
Accident reconstructionists could also examine data from the vehicle’s event data recorder, commonly known as the “black box”, to assess the sequence of events that led to the crash, if possible.
Benefits of Working with Technical Accident Investigators
Accident investigators and reconstructionists have the skills, experience, and training necessary to collect the evidence needed to determine what happened in motor vehicle accidents. A licensed professional engineer also brings their engineering training and ethics to the table. They gather information on the vehicles involved and the incident’s location using specialist instruments.
Canadian Association of Technical Accidents-qualified accident investigation specialists can assist insurance and legal professionals at every stage of the process, from handling insurance claims to civil and criminal matters and assisting the courts in determining fault.
They provide insurance and legal experts with additional facts throughout the investigation process. Facts that would not be available without the specific knowledge of the traffic accident reconstructionist, allowing for a careful review of the evidence. Other benefits of working with technical accident investigators include:
- Accident reconstructions in great detail
- Road safety professionals can tackle the most complex technical issues
- Insurance firms will find these reports marketable and process-friendly
- Accidents, damage, claims, and traffic processes are all covered in great detail in these reports
- Services governed by national traffic and liability regulations, as well as the terms of the insurance policy
- Expert evaluations for today’s increasingly high-tech automobiles
- A one-stop-shop for everything from damage assessment to claims processing
Accident Investigation Procedure
All things, including accidents, are subject to the rules of physics. The accident reconstructionist uses mathematics and physics to determine each vehicle’s speed and angle of impact before the accident.
This is done after an accident investigation expert has determined the necessary data (damage, lane tracks, resting positions, etc.). This data analysis is supported by research and validation using accident tests and the study of real vehicle collisions in databases of various organizations.
However, numbers represent only a small part of the overall reconstruction process.
During the inquiry phase of accident reconstruction, the Canadian Association of Technical Accidents makes sure that forensic engineering specialists complete several procedures. Professional accident investigators and reconstructionists use numerous vital components to analyze an accident scene appropriately, listed below:
- Examine all automobiles involved in the accident at the scene.
- Examine and photograph any other objects that may have been involved in the collision—for example, bicycles, animals, trees, houses, and heavy trucks.
- Gather visual evidence for the collision reconstruction, including photographs and traffic records.
- Review all accounts from the victim, eyewitnesses, and police.
- Examine tangible evidence like tire tracks and measuring devices.
- The length of a skid mark can typically reveal the vehicle’s original speed. Experts can usually determine the speed to within a few miles per hour.
- Examine the surrounding area at the time of the accident.
- Examine the road surface, particularly if traction has been lost due to snow, black ice, diesel fuel, or road debris.
- Examine the placement of road signs or signals for possible obstructions to visibility.
- Inspect the vehicle’s headlights, brake lights, and other road equipment to determine if they were functioning correctly at the time of the collision.
- Examine any unresolved safety recalls that may have led to the crash, including vehicle fire investigation.
Final Word
Technical accident investigators can portray your side of events clearly and effectively in negotiations and court using accident reconstruction techniques, assisting you in reaching the best potential settlement for your case. A qualified collision construction supervised by the Canadian Association of Technical Accidents can assist you in recovering more compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other losses related to your injury.
All of these benefits are only available to you when you use forensic engineering and collision analysis with help from accident investigators and reconstructionists, and event data recorders. Even better, the Canadian Association of Technical Accidents has approved all transportation engineers and automotive engineers to help you with your case.
Whether it involves cars, motorcycles, heavy trucks, or bicycles, we’ll work with you to figure out what happened and hold those involved accountable, either through their investigation or, if necessary, by collision reconstruction.
