In determining the correct cause of a car accident, crash reconstruction can be a vital tool. It can piece together the entire picture of a scene, including the before and after accident circumstances. In fact, it is so important that a car accident injury case may be won based on the findings of a crash reconstruction report, especially in a wrongful death matter. While these reports are usually not required for minor accidents or fender benders, they are of the utmost importance when a death has occurred.
Crash reconstruction is a scientific method that requires training and hands-on experience to perfect. It is also a mathematical science requiring precise measurements, surveying, and the use of formulas and physics. Once certified in the methods, a reconstructionist is considered a highly skilled and knowledgeable professional. Sometimes they are employed by law enforcement agencies. Otherwise, they may work as independent contractors or state employees.
If neither party is accepting fault for a major car accident, a reconstruction can be necessary. Factors taken into consideration will include weather, road conditions, both the mental and physical state of a driver, whether alcohol or drugs were involved, and whether any outside factors may have contributed to the crash. Outside factors could include an animal suddenly entering the roadway or an obstruction laying in the road itself. Speed of the vehicles will also be determined through the process of reconstruction.
A car accident attorney can secure the services of an expert crash reconstructionist when necessary to prove a case. He or she should be able to determine the weight that a reconstruction report would hold in a courtroom and how it may affect a judge or jury’s decision.