How Does “Accident Reconstruction” Work?

Accident reconstruction is a scientific breakdown of the events surrounding a collision, using verified facts to draw further conclusions about the cause of the event. In order to understand the circumstances surrounding a traffic accident, accident reconstruction experts utilize scientific methods and specialized tools to reconstruct the events leading up to an accident. Their analysis can help determine causality and contribute valuable evidence in court.

But why is this expert analysis useful in a court case? Consider the chaos of a car accident. (According to the National Law Review, our congested Chicago roads and highways see more than 10ten car accidents every hour of every day.) Many victims note that their perception changes as the accident unfolds, citing time moving in “slow motion” or the event being a “blur.” Car accidents can have severe consequences, leading to injuries, property damage, and even loss of life, so the altered state of consciousness many drivers experience during these traumatic experiences may not be the most trustworthy evidence when making your case for compensation in court.

What is accident reconstruction?

Accident reconstruction is a multidisciplinary field that involves investigating and analyzing the factors contributing to a traffic accident. It utilizes scientific principles, engineering techniques, and specialized tools to recreate the events leading up to an accident, offering insights into causation, vehicle dynamics, and human factors. By carefully examining physical evidence, witness statements, and other available data, accident reconstruction experts strive to provide an objective and unbiased account of how an accident occurred.

What factors do Chicago accident reconstruction experts analyze when rebuilding a traffic accident?

Accident reconstruction experts use a number of documented factors from a Chicago police report to reconstruct your accident. These factors include:

• Physical evidence: Physical evidence, such as skid marks, vehicle damage, debris patterns, and road conditions, provides critical information about the accident. Accident reconstruction experts meticulously collect and analyze this evidence to determine factors like vehicle speed, point of impact, and the sequence of events leading up to the accident.
• Vehicle data: Modern cars have a “black box” that records vehicle data leading up to an accident. This event data recorder will provide the dynamics of the involved vehicles and can be crucial in accident reconstruction. Experts evaluate factors such as braking distance, acceleration, tire marks and the trajectory of the vehicles. By using mathematical models and computer simulations, they can determine the speed and movements of the vehicles involved, shedding light on crucial details of the accident.
• Surveillance footage of any aspect of the accident: If there is footage of the collision itself that can be recovered from a camera placed outside of a business or property, this can serve as useful evidence in itself, but it might not paint the whole picture. Accident reconstructionists offer further context to the accident by analyzing this footage to build a clearer picture of the whole event.
• Witness statements and testimony: Witnesses often provide valuable information about the accident. Accident reconstruction experts interview witnesses to gather their accounts of the event, cross-referencing them with physical evidence. By reconciling witness statements with the scientific analysis, they can develop a more accurate understanding of the accident.

All of this data, when synthesized, can serve as compelling evidence to support your car accident claim. Be sure to work with experienced car accident attorneys at Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers who have established connections with skilled and trusted accident reconstructionists.

How does scientifically reconstructing an accident help in court?

The evidence provided by accident reconstructionists can be crucial to your case. With purely evidence-based data, these experts can help in a few ways.

• Establishing liability: Accident reconstruction experts provide objective and scientifically-supported analysis, aiding in establishing liability. By presenting their findings in court, they can clarify the cause of the accident and identify the responsible party. Context can be everything in car accident cases, and this detailed information can provide the court with necessary information to make an informed decision regarding compensation and legal consequences.
• Clarifying conflicting accounts: Accident reconstruction can help resolve conflicting accounts of an accident. By utilizing scientific methods and analyzing the available evidence, experts can provide a clear and unbiased understanding of the sequence of events. This can help eliminate uncertainties and provide a more accurate representation of the accident, aiding the court in reaching a fair and just verdict.
• Expert witness testimony: Accident reconstruction experts often serve as expert witnesses in court. Their specialized knowledge and scientific analysis provide credibility and added clarity to the visual element they have reconstructed. Their testimony can significantly influence the outcome of a case, as it provides an unbiased and evidence-based perspective.

The truth is, a car accident claim can be complex, but if you have a trusted reconstructionist on your side, they can help provide important evidence to support your case.

When you choose the experienced Chicago car accident attorneys at Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers you will also gain access to their trusted network of accident reconstruction experts. Aside from our track record of success in representing the Chicago community in car accident cases (which you can read about here in our extensive testimonials page), we offer you tenacious legal support throughout this challenging time.

Recovery is hard enough on your own. Choose Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers to help bring you legal peace of mind after your accident. Call or contact us at our Chicago office today for your free consultation.