Accident Reconstruction

The term "accident reconstruction" has taken on numerous meanings over the years. When we refer to accident reconstruction in our practice we are referring to the visual support that assists the expert or fact witnesses in conveying their theories of how the incident occurred.

Driver's view of a car jumping the concrete barrier. Snow had been plowed up against it, creating a ramp. One of a series of camera angles presented in the case.

In still photography, the work we do in this area is based on the expert's report in that we make the images from very specific distances and camera heights to assure a fair and accurate representation of what a driver or witness might have seen. We accurately portray the line-of-sight available across a street corner, and tie it in with a scale diagram showing the sight triangle in a plan view. The diagram can be magnetized to allow for a dynamic presentation at trial. Or the photographs may be taken at specific measured distances along a road to illustrate the sight line over the crest of a hill to support or challenge a witness' testimony regarding the amount of time available to stop after coming out of a blind spot in the road.

Aerial view of an accident.

In using video for accident reconstruction work, we generally produce drive- through footage to actually put the jury behind the wheel of a car and experience the scene as the driver would have. Video is also used to record experiments such as in industrial accidents to show how machines or equipment function. The videos can be made with the narration of the expert included as the experiment is conducted and is especially helpful in the settlement phase of the litigation or for a video settlement brochure.

The latest phase of this progression is computer animation. This is broken down into two categories. The first is the type of computer reconstruction where the computer does the mathematical and physical calculations. The accuracy of the product, therefore, is only as reliable as the computer program through which it was generated. See Modern Visual Evidence by Gregg Joseph for a detailed discussion of this subject.

Accident at a construction site.

The more common type of computer video is an illustrative video that creates a visual representation of either the known facts of a case or the opinion of an expert witness as to the happening of an accident. All the known data available, combined with the knowledge and training of the expert, meld together to create a dynamic portrayal of the events, within a reasonable degree of engineering certainty. The bottom line is, if you can say it in court, you can display it visually. (In New Jersey, see Cross-v-Lamb, 1960)

Not too long ago, three dimensional models of accident scenes were used to give the fact finder a more realistic sense of the locus. Model cars and trucks were moved through the terrain to demonstrate the dynamic sequence of events. The problem here was that the model was bulky, expensive to produce, and left the jury with nothing unless the attorney or expert or client were there to move the vehicles. Computer animation allows the jury to experience the scene and delivers the same approach sequence, impact dynamic, and post impact movement each time, every time. It can be delivered to interested parties in the case more easily than a full size model, and can be available to the jurors during deliberations to watch your version of the accident over, and over, and over again.

Over the last few years, the cost to produce a quality animation has come down considerably, and we invite you to consult with us on an animation for your next case. We generally quote a fee up front for a completed project, so you don't have to worry that the meter is running overtime to deliver your work.