When trucks crash, massive damage, injuries, and deaths can be the consequence. These cases often end up in court, where a judge will determine fault based on the evidence brought to them. To help achieve justice, lawyers or other individuals working on the case may hire a forensic engineer to assist in determining what happened.
Forensic engineers help with truck crash investigation by using their expert skills as well as engineering principles to recreate what happened using evidence provided. This allows the court to determine who is accountable. The findings also can be used as studies, so that truck and vehicle companies, or even councils, can prevent future accidents in the same vein.
How does Crash Reconstruction in Truck Accidents Help in Court?
What’s the Science Behind Crash Reconstruction?
When forensic engineers are used as expert witnesses, they pull on a range of knowledge, scientific principles and modern technology to reconstruct crashes. The techniques they use allow them determine how it occurred, and what factors were involved and how the crash could been pevented, allowing the courts to serve justice and ensure future accidents are prevented.
From the use of physics to understand elements like the speed, angles, and impact of a crash, to looking at leftover evidence on the scene such as skid marks, or even looking at faults within the vehicle or road to determine contributing factors, forensic engineers can take a wide range of evidence from a truck crash and discover what occurred.
Below, we’ll look at three ways forensic engineers undertake truck accident analysis.
1. What is Skid Mark Analysis?
You’ve probably seen skid marks on roads before – the dark lines left by tires when wheels slide, leaving marks made from friction and heat. This physical evidence left behind after an accident allows forensic engineers to work backwards and determine how the crash happened. Using the length, intensity, and pattern of the skid marks, they can paint a picture of the accident.
In skid mark analysis, engineers can estimate how fast the truck was moving right before the crash. For example, skid marks can help to see if the truck – or another party – was speeding. The angles and paths of the skid marks can also show the vehicle direction of travel, where and if they started braking, and where the impact happened.
2. What is Vehicle Damage Assessment?
Looking at the vehicles involved in the crash and the results of the impact is another great way for an engineer to determine what happened. For example, how bad is the damage, where is it, and how does the damage of both (or all) vehicles add up
In cases of fraudulent insurance claims, forensic engineers canassess what the vechicles were involved in the same incident by comparing the demage on the vehicles.
How Does Crash Reconstruction in Truck Accidents Determine Cause?
The above examples show how expert witness forensic engineers use different tools along with their professional experience to determine who or what causod the crash. By working backwards from the evidence provided, they can recreate a scene and see what exactly went wrong. Was it the truck driver’s tires? Was it an issue with the road, malfunctioning traffic lights, or weather conditions?
No matter the reason, the evidence put forward by an expert witness helps the court to not only see what happened, but have it explained to them in a way they can understand. After all, many jurors and judges aren’t experts in how trucks work and how crashes happen. Expert witnesses aren’t just experts in their field, but experts at telling people what happened so they can understand and make the best decisions as to who is at fault and what should happen next.
Contact Us at Gilmore Engineers
When searching for an expert witness for truck accident analysis, look for forensic engineers with vast experience and strong reviews. Always see what their portfolio entails, and make sure their testimonials show many happy past clients. Although forensic engineers can work remotely, you may want to find someone in your area. Alternatively, you might be looking for someone with very niche experience to help with your specific case. Whatever you’re seeking, a reliable forensic engineer expert witness can take a confusing, vague case and create clarity to help your investigation.
If you’re a lawyer seeking a forensic engineer to provide an expert witness statement regarding a truck crash investigation, chat to us. We look forward to helping you find the answers you’re looking for, helping to provide justice and prevent future accidents. This work protects our society and creates a safer world for trucks and other drivers.