Were you injured in a car accident in Dallas, Texas? If so, you will need to build a strong case proving the other driver was at fault to maximize your case. A reconstruction of the accident by an accident reconstruction specialist can provide an objective, scientific analysis of the likely causes and sequence of events in a motor vehicle crash. Traffic accident reconstruction specialists use computer software to create simulations that make complex accident scenarios more understandable for jurors and judges.
Testimony from a specialist in traffic collision reconstruction is common evidence in more complex car accident cases. Accident reconstruction is often essential to showing how a crash led to injuries and who is at fault. Keep reading to learn more about the reconstruction process, how a reconstruction specialist could strengthen your car accident claim, and when to contact a lawyer.
How Does the Reconstruction Process Work?
An accident reconstruction specialist applies forensic engineering principles to investigate and try to determine the cause of a motor vehicle accident. The reconstruction process typically involves the following stages:
- Evidence collection – Conduct field investigation at the accident scene and photograph and document essential details.
- Analysis – The reconstruction specialist meticulously reviews the data from an objective, scientific perspective to comprehensively analyze the events leading to the crash.
- Simulation – Highly advanced software uses digital or 3-D images to simulate the accident, often providing vital information that witness statements and physical evidence might not offer.
- Report preparation – The investigator compiles their findings about the cause of the accident into a comprehensive report helpful for insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits.
- Testimony – Accident reconstruction specialists may offer testimony in court.
In a personal injury case, the testimony of an accident reconstructionist can be critical to the outcome. Their forensic analysis can clarify the order of events, provide evidence, and strengthen the injured party’s case. According to the Texas District and County Attorneys Association (TDCAA), which provides guidelines for state prosecutors who want to use accident reconstruction experts at trial, accident reconstruction can “clarify additional investigation that may be needed.”
Evidence Used During Accident Reconstruction
An accident reconstruction specialist uses a variety of forensic methods to understand the dynamics of an accident. They compile this information into clear and understandable models or simulations to explain the most likely cause of the crash. A traffic collision reconstruction investigator typically examines the following:
- Skid marks on the road – Marks on the pavement can provide clues about the vehicles’ speed, direction, and braking before the crash.
- Debris in the road – Broken vehicle parts, shattered glass, and other physical evidence can indicate points of impact and the sequence of events.
- Vehicle damage – The extent and location of damage on the vehicles involved can provide insights into collision dynamics, such as angles and forces.
- Road conditions – Elements such as the road’s gradient, whether water or ice covered the road, and the presence of potholes or debris can help determine the cause of an accident.
- Black boxes – Many modern vehicles have event data recorders or “black boxes” that record speed, brake application, and airbag deployment. This data can be used to reconstruct a crash.
- Witness statements – Witness accounts provide firsthand accounts of the accident, which may corroborate physical evidence.
- Police report – Police accident reports often contain crucial initial observations, diagrams, and determinations of fault.
- Photographs and videos – Footage from nearby surveillance cameras, traffic cameras, dash cams, or bystanders may offer revealing evidence of how an accident unfolded and the accident scene.
- Weather and lighting conditions – Data from weather stations or meteorologist reports can provide context on possible environmental contributors to the accident.
- Medical reports – MRIs, X-rays, and doctor’s notes could correlate injuries with the dynamics of the crash.
Why Hire a Reconstruction Specialist?
Reconstruction specialists offer an objective assessment of the cause of a motor vehicle accident. Many accident reconstruction investigators have backgrounds in engineering or a related field. Testimony from a respected accident reconstruction specialist can be helpful in several areas:
- Determining liability – One of the main issues in personal injury cases is determining who is liable for injuries and other losses. An accident reconstruction specialist can provide objective evidence of fault for a crash.
- Clarifying the sequence of events – Witness testimonies can conflict. A reconstruction specialist can organize the evidence to provide a scientific, reliable account explaining how events unfolded.
- Strengthening cause and effect – Traffic collision reconstruction specialists can strengthen the link between the cause of the accident and the effect on the victim. For example, the investigator can explain how the impact force can penetrate a vehicle’s interior cabin and crush or break a passenger’s legs.
- Building a riveting case – Experts can simulate the accident to visualize how it unfolded with computer-aided design (CAD) software or step-by-step animated recreation. A reconstruction of an accident can show vehicle positions, points of impact, and other details in visually compelling ways.
- Maximizing compensation – If the evidence provided by the reconstruction specialist identifies the at-fault party, this information can strengthen the injured party’s claim, potentially leading to a more favorable settlement or verdict.
Traffic reconstruction specialists can break down complicated evidence into more easily understood information. Insurance companies, judges, and juries recognize accident reconstruction specialists as objective, credible, and impartial sources.
Get Legal Help From the Experienced Accident Lawyers Near You
Trying to navigate insurance claims and legal issues is overwhelming, especially if you are healing from serious injuries you suffered in a car accident. Let the attorneys at Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C., handle all the details of your case so that you can focus on your health and recovery. Our personal injury attorneys are committed to helping injury victims obtain compensation and justice after devastating accidents. Our firm has working relationships with traffic reconstruction specialists that we can hire when their involvement may be useful in maximizing a personal injury case.
Clients in Dallas and throughout North Texas choose our firm because we have the knowledge and resources to advocate for their rights aggressively. Contact our legal firm at (214) 999-9999 or fill out our online form for a free case review with an experienced car accident lawyer near you.
