While the study of photographs of vehicle damage is important, many details about the degree of vehicle deformation can be vague or not fully documented in such photographs. Inspection of the collision vehicle is most helpful when performing a reconstruction. Published research and literature can help assist the reconstructionist when a specific engineering principal or phenomenon is being analyzed. Repair estimates, crash test reports, and vehicle specifications provide data necessary for calculations when vehicle weight, dimensions, and property damage are used. Injury location may be used to help support opinions regarding vehicle dynamics. Emergency personnel run-sheets, medical records, and autopsy reports can provide useful and thorough descriptions of occupant injuries.

Oftentimes the eye witnesses may fill the gaps between what can be observed in photographs and what the traffic officers included in their reports. Additional sources to be considered are witness statements and deposition transcripts. Two basic sources of information are the Traffic Collision Report, and photographs of the vehicles and collision scene. Other areas of analysis not included are collisions involving heavy trucks and other articulating vehicles, or impacts involving pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycles.ĭetails regarding the circumstances of a collision are often obtained through several means. These concepts are presented as they commonly apply to collisions involving passenger cars. The following material is not intended to be comprehensive, but should be considered an overview of fundamental principals. This article presents several basic concepts typically found in the area of investigation and reconstruction of vehicle collisions. Questions such as, “How fast was the vehicle going at impact?” or “How much did the vehicle slow during the locked-wheel braking?” or “At what angles did the two vehicles collide?” can be answered by the reconstructionist after thorough evaluation of available information. spreadsheets, AutoCAD, simulation or modeling tools, graphics and photo-management software). It requires a working knowledge of many disciplines including physics, vehicle dynamics, mathematics, photogrammetry, and computer applications (i.e. What is Accident Reconstruction? Accident reconstruction is the process using scientific methodology to determine the circumstances, mechanics, and contributing factors associated with a collision.

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