The Role of Accident Reconstruction Specialists

Nobody plans to sustain serious injuries in a motor vehicle collision, yet traffic crashes continue to occur with frequency. When an accident does happen, it is critical for anyone injured by a careless or reckless driver to begin making plans to seek financial compensation. In general, an injury victim may be eligible to seek financial compensation by filing an auto insurance claim or filing a car accident lawsuit against the at-fault driver. In order to win a car crash lawsuit, it may be necessary to hire an accident reconstruction specialist to prove that the collision occurred the way you say it did.

Without assistance from an accident reconstruction specialist, you may not have the evidence you need to support your case. An accident reconstructionist can provide the information you need to show that the other vehicle was speeding, or that the collision occurred in a particular manner. We want to tell you more about the role of accident reconstruction specialists in traffic collision cases.

An accident reconstruction specialist, sometimes known as an accident reconstructionist or accident reconstruction expert, is a person who gathers information from the scene of the crash and uses a variety of tools and skills to reconstruct the accident based on data and science. Accident reconstruction specialists have extensive training and are accredited through the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstructionists (ACTAR).

Accident reconstruction specialists may rely on 3-D animation, forensic mapping, crash simulation, and other tools to demonstrate the speed at which a collision must have occurred, as well as the positions of the vehicles prior to and at the time of impact. Accident reconstruction experts can also determine if vehicle occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision, and they can also determine where a pedestrian may have been standing at the time of the collision. In sum, accident reconstructionists can provide evidence that helps to support an injury victim’s case that may not otherwise be available.

At the scene of the crash, it is important to take as many photographs as you can in order to show where the vehicles ended up after the collision, where skid marks appear on the road, where damage occurred to the vehicles, and other information. An accident reconstruction specialist can rely on that information when reconstructing the crash.

A police report can also be relevant for an accident reconstruction specialist who is developing a model that demonstrates how the crash likely occurred. Your accident reconstructionist will have specialized training and knowledge that allows them to use data and other information to provide details about a traffic collision, according to ACTAR.

Do you have questions about filing a car crash lawsuit and using an accident reconstruction expert? One of our experienced car accident attorneys can speak with you today. Contact the Walton Law Firm to learn more.