Accident Reconstruction

Accident reconstruction is a scientific process that is conducted to investigate what occurred in a motor vehicle accident, how it happened, and who was at fault. In addition, these analyses can also be used to determine what (if anything) could have been done to reduce the severity of the accident, or to reduce the injuries to those involved.  

Dr. Fijan applies a rigorous, analytical approach to investigate accidents involving single and multiple vehicles of all types – cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles. Dr. Fijan investigates the roles of operator, environment, and vehicular factors involved in such accidents consistent with the physical evidence.

Things that can be determined

  • How fast was a vehicle traveling prior to impact?

  • What braking or steering maneuvers did the drivers use?

  • Is a particular accident scenario consistent with the physical evidence?

  • In which lanes were the vehicles traveling at impact? Were they changing lanes?

  • Should an impact have been avoided?

  • Who was at fault for a motor vehicle accident?

  • How severe was the accident (for a particular occupant)? 

These and other questions can be addressed using rigorous accident reconstruction analyses that have been validated in peer-reviewed literature. In low-speed motor vehicle accidents, vehicles often sustain minimal damage. However bumper test results or other methods may be used to obtain reasonable bounds on vehicle speeds. In accidents involving significant vehicle crush or associated with visible skid marks, debris or video or other physical evidence, accurate vehicle trajectories and/or speeds may be estimated.

Relevant vehicle speeds, trajectories, changes in speed, and impact severity can be estimated based on: 

  • vehicle photographs

  • vehicle repair estimates

  • accident scene photographs

  • dash-cam or other video

  • vehicle black box data

  • skid mark geometry and other characteristics

  • debris in roadway

  • vehicle-specific crash test results

  • vehicle-specific stiffness, inertia and performance data

  • witness testimony

  • vehicle inspection

  • site inspection