Accident Reconstruction Experts
Eyewitness accounts are not very trustworthy. Even police reports from the scene of an accident can contain errors.
That’s why, when you’ve been injured by another driver or by an 18-wheeler, it’s important that you establish exactly how the accident happened AND who is at fault if you are going to get the money you’re entitled to.
Accident reconstruction is a field dedicated to analyzing factors that lead to crashes. Government agencies, personal injury attorneys, and companies in the private sector sometimes hire accident reconstruction experts to help determine the cause of collisions.
Let’s look at how accident reconstruction can play a crucial role in YOUR car accident claim.
3D imagery can help accident reconstruction experts.
What Do Accident Reconstruction Experts Do?
Reconstruction experts know how to figure out what elements played a part in the cause and seriousness of an accident.
Key aspects of reconstructing an accident may include:
- Inspecting the vehicle or vehicles involved in the accident
- Reviewing crash site images
- Reviewing traffic collision reports, deposition transcripts, witness statements, crash test reports, and other documents
- Evaluating victims’ medical records to determine the consistency of injuries
- Reviewing information captured by an 18-wheeler’s event data recorder (also known as the “black box”) to assess the events leading up to and during the crash.
The point of all this research is to answer lingering questions such as, “How fast was the driver going at impact?” or “How much did the vehicle slow during the locked-wheel braking?” or “At what angle did the 18-wheeler collide with the victim’s vehicle?”
Only after thorough evaluation of available information can these questions be answered by the reconstructionist.
What Does It Take To Be An Accident Reconstruction Professional?
There is no college program specifically for accident reconstruction (although organizations such as the Society of Automotive Engineers offer accident reconstruction certification). At the end of the day, the skills come from real-world knowledge, and experience.
That’s not to say the job doesn’t require some “book smarts.” An accident reconstructionist must be an expert in physics, photogrammetry (making accurate measurements from photographs), automobile design, mathematics, engineering, and computer simulation tools.
Computer simulations can help accident reconstruction experts.
When Do Personal Injury Lawyers Use Accident Reconstruction Experts?
Personal injury lawyers depend on reconstruction specialists for some cases involving motor vehicle accidents. These professionals can bring scientific evidence needed to win a case.
We might call on accident reconstruction experts for:
- Inconsistent witness accounts: A reconstructionist can help whenever witness accounts contradict one another or the physical evidence.
- Unclear police reports: The police officers at the scene are only human, and humans make mistakes. An accident reconstructionist can conduct a more nuanced investigation.
- Proving injury causation: Sometimes there’s a dispute about whether the accident caused the injuries or if they were part of a pre-existing condition. Analyzing the crash dynamics and the injuries sustained can show a correlation and help prove the injuries were indeed a result of the accident.
- Complicated cases: Some situations call for a deeper level of analysis and understanding. This might involve multiple vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, or commercial vehicles like 18-wheeler trucks.
- Disputed liability: When liability is in dispute, a reconstructionist can provide an unbiased analysis and help determine who was at fault.
- Serious or fatal injuries: In cases of serious injury or death, it is crucial to accurately determine the series of events leading up to the accident. An expert’s investigation might be key to securing fair compensation for the victims or their families, such as supporting a surviving family’s wrongful death claim.
The detailed, scientific insights these experts bring to the table helps us establish liability, clear up disputed facts, and ultimately achieve justice for the victims involved.
How Accident Reconstruction Experts Can Help Your Case
Accident reconstruction specialists are seen as credible experts in the courtroom. Since accident reconstruction takes a scientific approach, it is a reliable source of truth.
As such, they serve as expert witnesses to assist in building cases on behalf of our clients.
You, your lawyer, and a jury need to know as much about your accident as possible. Reconstructionists write reports and sometimes even develop 3D models to demonstrate how the accident happened. These experts work in reverse, documenting and studying evidence at the scene to develop conclusions about the cause of the accident.
Whether caused by speeding, improper lane change, running a red light, dangerous road conditions or something else, accident reconstruction experts are great at digging deep to see what REALLY caused the accident.
Drone photography in accident reconstruction.
Do I Need An Accident Reconstruction Professional For My Personal Injury Case?
Reports, testimony, and animations from reconstruction experts are useful in resolving disputes concerning the cause of an accident. Therefore, our team of personal injury lawyers may enlist accident reconstructionists to help us with accident cases involving contested liability.
Some of the ways an accident reconstruction expert may be able to help with your claim include:
- Identifying the errors committed by the at-fault driver that led to the accident (establishing liability).
- Determining whether defective equipment contributed to the crash (potentially entitling you to compensation through a product liability claim).
- Evaluating dangerous road conditions and their role in the accident (government entities may be liable for accidents caused by failure to maintain roads.
A reconstruction expert can support your claim against the other driver and additional liable parties, meaning you’re more likely to recover full damages.
In An Accident In Austin? Let’s Get Busy On Your Case!
Insurance companies have their own teams of reconstruction experts. It’s their job to help their employers reduce payouts by disputing liability for accidents. Given the money and resources the “other side” has, it is important to have both qualified legal guidance and compelling expert testimony on your side.
Funk & Associates is here to offer personalized legal assistance and guide you through your case. Our attorneys handle all aspects of your case, from gathering evidence to gathering testimony from qualified experts (like accident reconstruction experts) to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Fill out our Free Personal Injury Claim Evaluation today and we’ll get started on your case!
Images courtesy of Biodynamic Research Corporation.
