Accident reconstruction

E. Venable, "Some Considerations of Fuel Gas Explosions , Chapter 19 in "Accident Reconstruction , J.W. Reed R.A. Needham, edits, Dean-Hicks Co, USA (1966)... 

Duch, B. J. (2000) A bad day for Sandy Dayton The physics of accident reconstruction. Journal of College Science Teaching 30(1), 17-21. 

An important task in auto accident reconstruction involves the analysis of skid marks.11 Armed with the length of the skid marks and the coefficient of friction, investigators can make a good estimate of a car s speed just before the driver hit the brakes. In the activity, the students determined the coefficient of friction of wood on wood using two... 

As classical data collections are limited to accidents, one way to get data on non-collision events is a stochastic variation of accident reconstruction data in a way that the single event does not necessarily result in an accident anymore. These non-collisions are then used in the simulation in order to assess the balance between desired and undesired effects of a measure in traffic [ 15]. As a consequence, validating the non-collisions regarding the distribution of key parameters and their representa-tivity for overall traffic is vital. The basic data concerning exposure are not as well known as accident related data. 

As a possible positive safety effect is evident mainly within accidents (instead of non-accident situations), common approaches rely on reconstructed accident data and simulate the effect of an active safety system. However, there are several well-known limitations False-positive system actions (and consequently an important component of overall functional costs ) cannot be adequately assessed, as no representative sample of situations in which the system would be triggered (including non-accident situations) can be generated. Also assessment based on accidents can be sensitive to details of the accident reconstruction, which are indeed subject to uncertainties. However, a particular instance of a reconstmcted accident may not be entirely representative, particularly regarding the effectiveness of a proposed assistance system. 

Accident reconstruction is the process of collecting evidence from a vehicle accident to determine what happened. The... 

In accident reconstruction, someone first collects data at the accident scene. There are records of each type and model of vehicle There are photos and records of other data about the damage to each vehicle. There are records or plots of skid marks, impact points, final locations of vehicles, and vehicle components. There are records of pavements and surfaces involved in the accident. Investigators can log many of these data items directly on portable computers and devices. Often police record these data as part of on-scene reports. 

Some simple examples of accident reconstruction analysis will illustrate the approach. One can compute stopping distance s, in feet, for full, four-wheel braking of an automobile, from... 

Struble, Donald E. Automotive Accident Reconstruction Practices and Principles (Ground Vehicle Engineering), CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2014. 

Watts, Alan J. Accident Reconstruction Science, 4th ed.. Lawyers Judges Publishing Co., Inc., Tucson, AZ, 2011. 

Another use for computers in safety is modeling. Most common is modeling of processes and the hazards the processes create. Modeling allows people to anticipate what might happen or understand what did happen. The accuracy produced by a model depends on the availability of accurate data, the inclusion of factors that can affect the phenomenon and adequate representation in the mathematical manipulations. There are reasonably successful models in safety for automobile accident reconstruction, for gas dispersion, and for fire behavior in small buildings. Some software allows users to construct a model of a unique... 

Vehicle accident reconstruction models allow analysis of what happened in the sequence of events before, during and after collision. The models depend on accurate information about particular automobiles and data from crash sites. Chapter 14 introduced accident reconstruction modeling. 

See also Criminology DNA Analysis Toxicology Vehicular Accident Reconstruction. 

Thermal imaging can be used in accident reconstruction since thermal images can be detected even when there are no visible skid marks. 

Hugh H. Hurt, Jr., a safety engineer, was the first to study motorcycle accidents. His research, initiated in 1976, was published in 1981 as The Hurt Report, also titled Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures. His methods of data collection and the remarkable findings that came from keen analysis led to the emergence of the field of vehicle accident reconstruction. 

National standardization for the field of vehicle accident reconstruction was first funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 1985. The resulting report was titled Minimum Training Criteria for Police Traffic Accident Reconstructionists. One recommendation in the report was the formation of a certification board. In 1991, the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction was incorporated to promote the recognition of minimum standards outlined in the NHTSA study within the scientific and legal communities. 

Investigators must approach each vehicle accident reconstruction as a realistic and unbiased narrative of scientific facts in context. Reconstruction involves three phases investigation, in which evidence is collected analysis, in which evidence is interpreted in context and presentation, in which interpretations and conclusions are conveyed to persons who intend to use the information. 

Vehicle accident reconstruction is performed in cases of collisions that result in injuries, deaths, and significant property damage. It may be performed to determine criminal action or negligence, including which, if any, traffic laws were violated. Forensic evidence may also indicate intentional action such as homicide, suicide, deliberate property damage, or attempted police evasion. Collision reconstruction may also be performed to determine liability and financial responsibility, particularly in cases in which... 

An accident reconstruction specialist looks over a wrecked vehicle after an accident. (AP Photo)... 

Conclusions learned from vehicle accident reconstruction may be applied to amusement ride safety, especially as roller coasters become more complex and exert greater stress on the bodies of the riders, including potential brain injuries. In addition, the impact testing of motorcycle helmets has shown that while a significant blow can reduce the protective capability of the helmet, even after ten more blows, a helmet still retains some capacity to protect the skull, suggesting that wearing a helmet that has already received a forceful impact is still better than not wearing a helmet. 

Fascinating Facts About Vehicular Accident Reconstruction... 

Vehicular accident reconstructionists typically come from one of two backgrounds criminal justice or engineering. While the educational paths are different for these two fields, the specialized field of vehicular accident reconstruction has basic principles and methods and requires proficiency in the studies of mathematics, physics, forensic investigation, photography, computer-aided design software, mechanical engineering, and human anatomy and physiology. 

As the body of vehicle accident reconstruction experience is growing, so are libraries of information on such things as the characteristics of vehicle materials, tires, driving surfaces, and visibility factors. Data on causative factors are being amassed and used to make recommendations to improve transportation safety at both the manufecturing and the legislative levels. 

Brach, Raymond M., and R. Matthew Brach. Vehicle Accident Analysis and Reconstruction Methods. Warrendale, Pa. SAE International, 2011. Covers objective methods to apply and demonstrate the science, mathematic, and engineering principles underlying accident reconstruction. 

Brown, John Fiske, Kenneth S. Obenski, and Thomas R. Osborn. Forensic En neering Reconstruction of Accidents. Springfield, HI. Charles C. Thomas, 2002. Important concepts written in an easily imderstood manner for professionals other than engineers. Franck, Harold, and Darren Franck. Mathematical Methods for Accident Reconstruction A Forensic En-gmeering Perspective. Boca Raton, Fla. GRG Press, 2010. The principles of mathematics and physics are applied to the models demonstrating accident reconstruction. 

Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction http //www. actar.org... 

National Association ofProfessional Accident Reconstruction Specialists http //napars.org... 

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