Signs of Whiplash After a Car Accident & What to Do Next
Posted in: Car Accidents
KNR Legal Blog
Not every car accident case needs an accident reconstructionist, but yours might.
It’s often clear who is at fault in many collisions. But if you’re part of a contested or complicated car accident claim, you might need an expert. Hiring an expert witness for traffic accident reconstruction can give you answers about how fast the other car was going, the angle at which the other car hit you, and other facts that establish fault.
You also might need to hire an accident reconstructionist if you can’t remember what happened, there were no other witnesses, or one or more vehicles were destroyed. When you lack common evidence used to prove fault, it’s common to turn to an expert who can analyze the data and give you additional information.
To talk about whether your claim would benefit from an accident reconstructionist, call Kisling, Nestico & Redick at 1-800-HURT-NOW. You also can request a free initial consultation online. There are never up-front fees and you owe nothing unless you recover compensation.
An accident reconstructionist investigates auto accidents and uses scientific principles and mathematics to reach conclusions about who was at fault and why. Many of these experts have engineering and science backgrounds. Others are law enforcement officers with additional training in accident investigations and analysis.
These experts have education and training in physics, mathematics, photogrammetry (taking measurements from photos), and various computer applications, like 2D and 3D modeling and simulations.
Accident reconstruction starts with knowing the final positions of the vehicle. The experts measure where the vehicles ended up, the directions they’re facing, their distance from each other and where the collision occurred, and other factors.
They’ll gather a lot of other information, including measurements of any marks on the pavement, damage to surrounding property, the amount of damage to the vehicles, weather conditions, pavement conditions, and the vehicle passengers’ injuries. This information is collected from the crash reports, photos, videos, vehicle inspections, witness statements, medical records, repair estimates, vehicle manufacturer specifications, and vehicle’s electronic data.
Speed is often a crucial factor in car accident claims. An accident reconstructionist can how fast a motorist was going and whether they accelerated or braked before the collision. They also can find out which direction the vehicles were heading, sight distance, location of the collision, the severity of the accident, traffic code violations, and avoidability.
An expert witness, like a traffic accident reconstructionist recreate the crash. Many use diagrams or computer modeling to simulate the collision. These models are essential in court.
Instead of you or another witness describing what happened, an expert can show jurors clear, well-marked diagrams or a video. Visual aids make the crash real to the jury and show, in no uncertain terms, who caused the accident.
Many accident reconstructionists are used to testifying in court. You might have trouble describing what happened, it might be distressing for you after a traumatic crash, or you might not remember. Though you still may need to testify, an accident reconstruction expert can bear the brunt of talking about happened and why. They have experience answering lawyers’ questions and explaining how they reached their conclusions to a jury.
An accident reconstructionist’s fees depend on the scope of the project and their years of experience. For example, your collision might require a straightforward analysis of one vehicle’s speed. Or you might have been hurt in a multi-car pileup need more in-depth analysis that requires additional expertise and time. This second scenario will generate higher fees.
Usually, these experts require a portion of their fees upfront. However, KNR handles all cases on a contingency fee basis and are responsible for any upfront costs. Ultimately, the goal is to recover compensation that covers your expenses, including expert fees.
After you’re hurt in an accident, it’s important to figure out whether you need an accident reconstruction expert right away. Time is never on your side. The evidence could disappear within days—skid marks fade or damaged property could be repaired or removed. We recommend you call Kisling, Nestico & Redick as soon as possible after the crash.
We’ll review the circumstances and advise you on whether an accident reconstructionist is necessary or helpful for your claim. You can reach us at 1-800-HURT-NOW and set up a free initial consultation.