Accident Reconstruction

Accident reconstruction can be very important to your case and many lawyers don’t know beans about it. When the stakes are high and an accident involves serious injuries, such as those that occur in semi-truck accidents, the insurance company will do everything in their power to defeat your claim. In every case involving serious injuries, accident reconstruction may be critical to winning your case and obtaining fair compensation for your injuries.

Our law firm is one of few law firms in the United States who has both an attorney with specialized training in accident reconstruction and an attorney who is an engineer. Having an attorney who understands accident reconstruction and who has the ability to initiate an immediate investigation after a wreck can mean the difference between winning or losing your case. In circumstances where the insurance company alleges comparative fault, having a lawyer who is adept in accident reconstruction can actually impact your case by millions of dollars. At Cullan & Cullan, we have decades of experience in accident reconstruction and in helping injured clients obtain the compensation they need to recover after an accident.

To learn more about our legal services and accident reconstruction, call a Kansas City injury lawyer at (816) 253-8606 for a free evaluation of your case.

What Is Accident Reconstruction?

Accident Reconstruction is the process of securing as much evidence as possible after a wreck before it is lost, altered, or destroyed and then analyzing the physical and scientific evidence to determine the events and causes of an accident.

To recreate how an accident took place, it will be necessary to use all available evidence. A thorough accident reconstruction relies heavily on the law of physics. A short list of just some of the matters to consider are:

• Geometric characteristics of the accident place
• Composition of the surface
• Weather factors - moisture, cloud cover, full moon,
• Sight distance analysis
• Friction coefficient
• Braking coefficient
• Wheel tracking
• Event Data Recorders Computer/black box information
• Braking performance/reaction time
• Speed
• Steering
• Traffic Engineering
• Dynamic testing
• Computer generated reconstruction
• Vehicle final resting place
• Collision severity - Vehicle damage
• Damage to road surface
• Weight Analysis – what cargo was the truck hauling
• Police reports
• Skid mark analysis
• Video or audio footage
• Computer animation

These detailed reports can help in proving that the at-fault party was responsible for the crash. A thorough investigation can often uncover facts that lead to the payment of punitive damages against the insurance company, trucking company, or other defendants who put an unsafe vehicle on the road or created an otherwise unreasonably dangerous condition.

Creating complex visual aids and conducting extensive research can be costly. Fortunately, it is not necessary to utilize accident reconstruction in every personal injury case. Accident reconstruction is most commonly used in cases involving semi-truck, airplane and railroad accidents and other serious injury accidents. Other examples include multi-vehicle accidents where there are conflicting accounts and statements, disputed on-the-job injuries, or complex slip and fall accident claims.

Validity of Accident Reconstruction

We live in a visual society. There are some injury claims where visual aids are more effective in proving both liability and damages. Forensic animation is a form of accident reconstruction that uses a computer-generated video to show how the accident took place. The computer graphics not only show how the accident happened but also the mathematical and physics principles that prove the accuracy of the video.

The court is tasked with evaluating the value of the accident reconstruction. It will have to be determined if the evidence is authentic and if it is relevant to the case. The accident reconstruction must also be accurate and fair to both sides. If the reconstruction is deemed accurate, fair and relevant, it can then be used in court.

How Accident Reconstruction Can Help

If you have sustained a serious injury, you are likely dealing with significant losses. A successful personal injury claim can result in financial compensation for medical bills, hospitalization and rehabilitation costs, lost wages, loss of earning potential, mental anguish, pain and suffering, and other related damages.

If you are not able to prove how the accident happened, however, your claim will either be denied or you will be offered an inadequate settlement. Having a Kansas City personal injury attorney who can present the scientific evidence of the crash with an accident reconstruction will give credence to your claim and help you get the compensation you need and rightfully deserve.

Call Cullan & Cullan at (816) 253-8606 to discuss how accident reconstruction may strengthen your case.