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ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION. Who is at fault?. Accident Reconstruction. The goal of accident reconstruction is to: analyze the accident to help determine what happened when it happened where it happened why it happened how fast the vehicles were traveling who was involved who was at fault.
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Accident Reconstruction • The goal of accident reconstruction is to: • analyze the accident to help determine what happened • when it happened • where it happened • why it happened • how fast the vehicles were traveling • who was involved • who was at fault
Tire Marks • Can be used to determine the direction of travel • Can be used to identify the type of vehicle
Identifying a Vehicle • The track width and wheelbase are used to identify a vehicle • The track width is measured from the center of each tire to the center of the opposite tire; remember that the front and rear track width measurements may differ • The wheelbase is the distance between the center of the front axle and the center of the rear axle
Turning Diameter • Used to help identify a vehicle • Is the measure of how tight a circle can be driven by a vehicle • In other words, the minimal space required for a car to make a U-turn
Types of Marks • Skid marks: • Formed when someone brakes suddenly and locks the wheels • Provides evidence of the distance brakes were applied • Calculation of velocity can be made from skid marks
Types of Marks • Yaw marks: • Produced when a vehicle travels in a curved path faster than the vehicle can handle and skids sideways • Tires and road surface melt from extreme conditions • Audible squeal and often smoke occurs
Types of Marks • Tire scrub: • Produced by a damaged or overloaded tire or tires during or immediately after impact • Usually curved, irregular in width • May have striations that look like stripes • Determine area of impact