When a car accident occurs, the people involved may not be able to recall the exact events that took place, or there may be conflicting versions of what transpired. The most common statements at accident scenes include: “It happened so fast” and “Where did the other car come from?” It is crucial that you reach out to an experienced attorney as soon as possible so that they can help you gather accident scene evidence to build a strong case. Stephen Bowling DWI & Criminal Defense Attorneys have vast experience and can painstakingly reconstruct car accidents to help strengthen your case. Sometimes we hire accident reconstruction experts to help us gather as much evidence as possible.
What Is Car Accident Reconstruction?
A car accident reconstruction is the process of investigating, analyzing, and drawing conclusions on the causes and events that transpired during an accident. This data comes from different sources, but overall, the evidence is obtained from the accident scene, the vehicles, the drivers, and eyewitnesses. To the untrained eye, this data may be an unrecognizable jumble of information. Stephen Bowling may hire accident reconstruction experts to conduct extensive collision analysis to determine the contributing factors in different types of accidents, including the driver’s role, the environment, intoxication of the driver, traffic, environment, and lighting. It is essential that accident reconstruction be conducted in situations where death or personal injury is involved to obtain complete evidence.
Accident Scene Evidence – Investigation and Reconstruction Process
The investigative process of any vehicular accident reconstruction works back through the chain of events from the final rest position of the vehicles involved. As such, this process involves a disciplined and skillful study of the evidence and application of basic science.
That said, not all questions pertaining to a car accident can be answered to a reasonable degree of certainty. Some issues might remain indeterminate. The volume and quality of information are crucial to reconstruction. But ultimately, car accident reconstruction aims to answer key questions about an accident.
Here are some of the aspects that an in-depth investigation should cover:
Understand the Physics Behind the Accident
Your lawyer or investigator’s understanding of what transpired during the car accident is based on collision physics. When two cars are involved in a collision, their kinetic energy isn’t conserved, but their total momentum is. Investigators can determine their total momentum by measuring their masses, the distance they slid together, and their drag forces. In case one car was stopped, it’s easy to calculate how fast the other car was traveling. Suppose both cars were in motion; the total momentum will still provide investigators with a starting point.
Conducting Time Distance Calculations
Distance is the multiple of time and speed. So, suppose the investigator knows the speed at which the vehicle was initially traveling, and they can determine the average human reaction time; they can calculate the distance the vehicle traveled while the driver was reacting to the situation.
Analysis of Physical Evidence Such as Skid Marks
Measuring how long skid marks are is another technique used to determine the speed at which the vehicles were traveling. The minimum speed of a car as it starts to skid can be determined by assessing the skid distance, braking efficiency, and the drag factor due to road friction. The appearance of a skid mark can also help an investigator determine whether a car was accelerating, braking, or sliding. As such, skid marks can indicate who might be at fault for driving recklessly.
Analyzing Debris Left on the Road
Debris left on the road after a car accident can also be a telling piece of evidence. It can help determine where exactly the accident actually took place, which is useful given that the cars involved in the accident will often be cleared off the road by the time investigations begin.
Analysis of Photographs of the Accident Scene
Photographs can be vital since the accident scene can be blocked off, and the vehicles involved will often be towed or moved. Proper documentation of the accident scene facilitates a thorough analysis by attorneys and investigators who weren’t on the scene. Moreover, photographs are often a crucial piece of evidence if the accident has to be settled in court.
Look at the Vehicles Involved and Total Damage
Investigators also research manufacturing specifications of vehicles involved in an accident to learn about the braking system and their collision resistance ratings. With such information, each vehicle can shed more light on the accident.
Other aspects that an investigation should look into include:
- Who was driving?
- Evaluating whether traffic violations played a part in the accident happening
- Driving strategy and tactics
- Effect of alcohol and psychological conditions
- Effect of weather and road conditions
- Lines of sight and visibility factors
- Analysis of links in the chain of events
Consult an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney in Austin
Have you been involved in a DWI accident and need legal counsel to help fight for your rights? Stephen Bowling DWI & Criminal Defense attorneys will not only help gather and analyze car accident evidence to strengthen your case but will also fight tirelessly to ensure that the outcome of your case is favorable. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
