Fault is a core issue in any North Carolina car accident case. Injury victims can seek compensation for their losses from the negligent party or parties who caused the accident.
However, determining liability for a car crash is not always straightforward, especially in cases involving multiple vehicles or commercial trucks.
To fully understand what led up to a complex collision, attorneys and insurance companies may consult car accident reconstruction experts.
Automotive engineers, forensic engineers, and other specialists review physical and digital evidence to reconstruct and analyze what happened, and their testimony can provide valuable support for a car accident claim.
What Is Accident Reconstruction?
Accident reconstruction applies physics and engineering principles to explain how a traffic collision occurred.
It is the process of investigating, examining, and assessing the facts to determine the sequence of events that led to a crash.
For example, accident reconstruction analysis can estimate vehicle speed and other vehicle dynamics, evaluate whether the drivers took evasive action before the collision, review the angle at which the vehicles struck each other, and assess which environmental factors or human factors may have contributed to the collision.
What Does an Accident Reconstruction Expert Do?
An accident reconstruction expert uses scientific analysis to understand how an accident occurred and whose actions contributed to it.
They collect and review evidence such as:
- Accident scene photos
- Footage taken from traffic, security, or dashboard cameras
- Measurements taken at the crash site
- Post-accident vehicle inspection reports
- Physical evidence, like debris, tire marks, and skid marks on the road surface
- Vehicle data from onboard computer systems
- Witness statements
- Weather reports
- Telematics/GPS tracking data
- Three-dimensional laser scanning
- Property damage
Along with this information, an accident reconstructionist may use computer-assisted modeling techniques to reverse engineer potential scenarios to explain what led up to the crash.
They may then run simulations to test these scenarios and select a most likely model of how the crash occurred.
How Accident Reconstruction Experts Help Prove Liability and Strengthen Your Case
Most personal injury cases hinge on the concept of negligence: whose actions or omissions caused another person’s injury.
North Carolina is a contributory negligence state, which means that if an accident victim played any role in the crash, they cannot recover compensation. For this reason, the testimony that an accident reconstruction expert provides may be critical to the success of your car accident claim.
Not everyone qualifies as an expert under North Carolina law. It’s a technical term whose meaning has a legal basis.
For example, North Carolina G.S. 8C-1, Rule 702 states that “knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education” qualify a witness as an expert whose understanding of “scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge” can help a judge or jury understand particularly complex facts or concepts.
This rule sets standards for the use of expert testimony in court.
The Process of Working With an Accident Reconstruction Expert
The process of working with an accident reconstruction specialist typically begins with a thorough review of the available evidence.
The expert may ask you questions about your experience and what you remember about the traffic accident. They may also inspect the vehicle damage, visit the accident scene, and collect other relevant information.
They will then analyze the data and prepare a detailed report explaining their opinion about what caused the accident. Most of this work will happen behind the scenes without your direct involvement.
Not every case requires collision reconstruction. Your car accident lawyer can determine when to hire an accident reconstruction expert as your case progresses.
FAQs About Car Accident Reconstruction Experts
Accident reconstruction is a complex discipline. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions our car accident lawyers hear from our clients.
What Happens If the Reconstruction Contradicts the Police Report?
In many car accident cases, the police officer who responds to the accident scene will write a report detailing their observations and assessment of how the collision may have occurred.
Their findings may contradict what your accident reconstruction expert believes happened. If that’s the case, your car accident attorney can present the expert’s analysis to provide a more scientific opinion about the crash that may not be reflected in the initial police report.
How Long Does an Accident Reconstruction Take?
Many factors affect how long it might take to reconstruct a given accident, including the number of people involved, the availability of evidence, whether certain facts are in dispute, and whether the expert must wait for the results of medical testing.
Expect it to take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Can an Expert Testimony Be Challenged in Court?
Your accident reconstruction expert’s testimony can be challenged in court.
If your case goes to trial, you can expect the defense to hire its own expert to provide testimony supporting its client’s position.
However, it’s important to remember that expert testimony is just one piece of evidence that your lawyer will present at trial. Their job isn’t to treat the expert’s testimony as the final word on what happened. Rather, it’s to persuasively argue that the expert’s testimony supports your version of events.
Do I Need to Hire My Own Reconstruction Expert?
In many cases, you will not need to hire your own accident reconstruction expert if you work with an experienced attorney. Law firms typically have a network of experts they have used in prior cases and trust for car accident assessments.
What Information Does a Reconstruction Expert Need From Me?
The crash reconstruction expert might need some information from you, such as a written account of what happened and access to your damaged vehicle.
However, most of their work will involve independent research and analysis. One of the major upsides of working with an accident reconstruction expert is that they can evaluate your side of the story.
Their testimony can shape the strategy your attorney uses during settlement negotiations or at trial.
Speak With a Durham, NC Car Accident Lawyer Today About Reconstruction Experts
Have you been injured in a car accident in Durham, NC? If so, turn to a law firm with over a decade of experience building car accident cases with help from trusted experts.
Contact Kreger Brodish LLP today for a free consultation.
