There are various reasons why accidents happen on Maryland roads. There also tend to be various versions of the truth when it comes to people’s testimonies as to what happened before a crash.
Sometimes, people simply might not remember what happened. Maybe they weren’t paying close enough attention. In some situations, a motorist might lie about what led to a car accident in order to try to protect themselves of someone they know.
Versions of the truth are partly why crash reconstruction is so valuable following a motor vehicle accident. Law enforcement relies on this process in order to advise prosecutors regarding criminal cases. Crash reconstruction data is also invaluable to a personal injury lawsuit.
What are some basics of the crash reconstruction process? This is the first of multiple posts to come that will go over some fundamental aspects of investigating a traffic accident.
First, you should know that reconstructionists view a crash as having three phases:
- Pre-impact
- Impact or engagement
- Post-impact
Beyond the phases, accident investigations look for several so-called “events” that can help uncover the physics behind the crash and, therefore, who was likely accountable for initiating the incident. These events include the following and even more:
Point of first possible perception: Was there a moment or place at which the party/parties could have reasonably perceived the traffic danger?
Point of no escape: The time and place at which the accident couldn’t have been avoided.
Point of operator action: When and where the operator takes some sort of driving action to try to avoid the accident.
Point of initial engagement: When and where the crash contact actually occurs.
Final rest position: Where did the vehicle/s come to rest, and how did it end up there? What kind of markings or damage lead to that rest position?
If you have been involved in a car accident and are now in the process of suing for negligence, these sorts of details will be integral to the progress of your case. You might be able to help clarify some of these matters by talking to your attorney about the accident but also by snapping photos of the scene (if you are healthy enough) once the crash has occurred.
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