The Importance Of An Accident Reconstruction Specialist For Your Case
Accident reconstruction experts offer invaluable service in terms of litigating personal injury and wrongful death cases that may involve multiple motor vehicles. The latest tools and techniques to collect and analyze evidence combined with the expertise of an accident reconstructionist to recreate the events leading to the car accident can make or break a personal injury case.
The testimony of the accident reconstruction specialist can corroborate your version of the accident as well as witness testimonies. It can also help determine the liability of all direct or indirect parties at fault for your accident and injuries.
Role of Accident Reconstruction in Different Types of Alabama Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents
Accident reconstruction by experts can be helpful in determining the speeds at impact, location of impact, and positioning prior to impact. The force of impact resulting in injuries, pre-impact locations, and the use of seatbelts can also be established through accurate accident reconstruction. In many serious accidents, determining the person driving the vehicle becomes a serious issue. This is especially if there were no seatbelts used.
Pedestrian collisions
Pedestrian crashes are the most challenging in terms of reconstruction. They usually occur in areas where there is a mix of pedestrians, vehicles, intersections, and signals. You would need trained experts to thoroughly understand the evidence and how it relates to the collision.
There are 5 primary types of pedestrian collisions:
- Wrap trajectory: An adult pedestrian is hit by a vehicle that is decelerating. The pedestrian’s upper torso wraps itself on the hood of the car.
- Forward projection: This is usually in the case of children where they are thrown several feet in front of the car since their center of mass is lower as compared to the front of the vehicle.
- Fender vault: The pedestrian is hit by the outer edge of the car and their torso gets wrapped onto the hood. Furthermore, it exits off of one side of the vehicle.
- Roof vault: Pedestrian becomes airborne in these high-speed impact crashes
- Somersault: The pedestrian gets flipped into the air and on the road in these uncommon high-speed impact crashes.
An accident reconstruction expert will carefully analyze the pedestrian collision scene, condition and location of vehicle damage, and pedestrian injuries to determine the force and point of impact. Additionally, the expert may also be able to determine any secondary injuries that occurred when the pedestrian was thrown on the ground – by another vehicle or the force of impact.
Motorcycle accidents
There has been a steady increase in injuries and deaths involving motorcycles as helmet laws are relaxed and ridership numbers increase in Alabama. An accident reconstructionist will be able to reconstruct the various specifics regarding a motorcycle accident.
Accident reconstruction experts are specially trained in understanding the operation of automobiles, including motorcycles and the complex dynamics surrounding motion. In several cases, a thorough evaluation by reconstruction specialists may be required to determine the actual fault and cause of the motorcycle crash.
Truck or bus crash
Trucks and buses have special dynamics that need to be considered while determining the cause of the accident. These vehicles have a larger size and require longer stopping distances. Their higher center of gravity also plays an important role in determining fault.
Accident reconstruction experts are trained in these different dynamics. Only a professional reconstructionist can accurately conceive the force of a truck or bus collision with a passenger car.
Forensic Mapping by Accident Reconstruction Experts
Accident reconstruction experts are provided special training and equipment for measuring an accident scene quickly. This allows the accident scene to be cleared in a minimal time frame. The expert will use state-of-the-art surveying equipment for creating an accurate 3D model of the accident scene. This serves as evidence that can be used in addition to other preserved pieces of evidence, such as witness recollection and damaged vehicles.
Accident Reconstruction and Your Car Accident Claim in Alabama
Accident reconstruction is usually necessary to determine the fault and cause of a car accident claim. It’s critical to determine liability and the at-fault party in a personal injury claim.
You need to be able to show the entity or person that caused the accident and how it led to your injuries before you can recover compensation or obtain justice. The insurance company doesn’t really have a reason to pay a settlement if you can’t demonstrate liability.
Accident reconstruction specialists can be helpful here in providing clarification and explaining the exact cause behind the accident. These experts can also identify contributory negligence because of faulty road conditions, aggressiveness, carelessness, equipment failure, or any other factor.
Without the help of a trained accident reconstructionist, your car accident injury attorney will need to rely on testimony and other physical evidence. Unfortunately, testimony provided by witnesses is often inaccurate and conflicting. It’s judicious that you hire an attorney with the necessary resources to work with an accident reconstructionist to build a strong claim.
Contact Smith Law Firm for Strong Legal Representation in Your Car Accident Case
The dedicated car accident attorneys at the Smith Law Firm have extensive experience in handling all types of accident claims that resulted in wrongful death or severe injury. Our capable investigative team along with professional accident reconstructionists can gather the necessary evidence, preserve it, and reconstruct the accident scene to clearly show the events leading up to the crash.
Schedule your free case review with our lawyers today. Call us at 334-377-1674 or contact us online.
