Accident reconstruction as a profession has become increasingly sophisticated over the past few decades due to improved technology and the creation of various organizations that are charged with the oversight and investigation of collisions and/or disasters of all types. In my Houston personal injury practice I frequently use accident reconstruction experts to help analyze and present the case.
Vehicular accident reconstruction is a scientific process that involves the examination and analysis of motor vehicle collisions that ultimately result in professionals drawing conclusions as to the likely and probable cause and factors that contributed to the accident.
Many elements are taken into account. For instance, 'reconstructionists' employ such things as the laws of physics - including linear motion and kinetics - as well as engineering principles when recreating an accident scene. Today they are able to input information into computer software programs designed to support accident reconstruction investigation - thereby allowing for a more accurate analysis of all of the data.
Accident reconstruction is used most often in vehicular collisions that result in fatalities and wrongful death claims and/or serious personal injury cases. Courts and other relevant groups have begun to rely increasingly on the findings of those employed in this field. Information from their conclusions may be utilized to develop safer highways and even in the overall design of motor vehicles.
Those who work in the field of accident reconstruction must receive special training and/or have advanced skills. Typically, forensic engineers, law enforcement specialists or private consultants are those that have the expertise to carry out this work.
In some instances, particularly in wrongful death accidents which are investigated by DPS troopers an accident reconstruction may be done by the troopers and their training such that their own opinions regarding the cause of the accident may be admissible in a court of law.
The case law is split on whether an officer can testify as to the officer's opinion regarding the cause of an accident and the defining elements on whether the opinions may be admissible is the training of the officer in accident reconstruction and the actual work done with the scene.
If you have lost a loved one in an 18 wheeler accident or have been seriously injured you may want to speak to an 18 wheeler accident attorney regarding the potential for reconstruction of the specific accident.
