Scene Investigation
Evidence left at the sence of the accident can provide a great deal of information regarding how the accident happened, whether or not a driver was speeding, and who is at fault for causing the car accident.
Our forensic engineers and traffic accident reconstructionists understand the critical importance of gathering scene evidence as soon after the car accident as possible. Evidence such as skid marks and paint marks (from police) on the pavement fade away with time due to sun exposure, inclement weather, traffic and other disturbances. Evidence off of the roadway such as tire tracks and skid marks on the shoulder also gets disturbed due to new vegetative growth and mowing.
Marking a Scene
Beyond making sure the accident scene is secure and completing their police report, police officers rarely have the opportunity to collect all of the roadway evidence and perform a thorough investigation. The local police and highway patrol prepare accident reports, take photos, record video footage and often mark a scene.
The phrase “mark a scene” has come to mean that the arriving officers locate key items using spray paint or evidence flags. The evidence marked will depend greatly on the type of accident and the type of vehicles involved.
Roadway Evidence
There are many types of roadway evidence that is left from a car wreck. A few of the most typical items are:
Paint Marks left by Police- Skid Marks
- Yaw Marks
- Tire Tracks
- Gouges in the Pavement or Dirt
- Damage to Guardrails, Barrier Walls, Telephone Poles, Curbs, Buildings, Mailboxes, and Other Structures.
- Tree Scars Indicating Impact with a Tree
- Fluid Stains such as Engine Oil, Transmission Fluid, Brake Fluid, Radiator Fluid, Blood, etc.
- Vehicle Debris from Damaged Car Parts
- Glass Fields from a Broken Windshield
- Points of Impact between Vehicles
- Final Resting Positions of Vehicles and Pedestrians
- Clothing / Shoes Worn by Pedestrians
- Cargo Seperated from its Vehicle
- Animals
Scene Mapping
Measurements are taken at the accident scene using surveying equipment so that an accident scene diagram can be prepared showing site specific conditions and roadway evidence. The drawing is similar to a land survey of the roadway, except that a car accident occured and roadway evidence such as skid marks, gouge marks, fluid stains, etc. has been left behind. This process of surveying the roadway evidence on the is called scene mapping.
Collecting & Documenting Evidence
In addition to scene mapping, evidence left at the roadway is documented using photographs and video.
Did the Roadway Contribute to the Cause of the Accident?
Another significant part of the accident scene investigation is determining if roadway defects or design flaws contributed to the cause of the accident. Many times, people ask "Did the roadway contribute to the cause of the accident?" Our forensic engineers and accident reconstructionists answer these questions by inspecting the roadway for safety concerns. Our forensic engineers are very familiar with design regulations and industry standards that govern how the roadway was designed, if any defects exist, and whether or not there were any maintenance problems associated with the cause of the accident.
First Response
Roadway evidence begins to disappear soon after the accident making it critically important to have a professional gather the evidence for future use. At Atlanta Engineering Services, our engineers are ready to respond to an accident at any time.
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Atlanta Engineering Services, Inc. | 185 Thompson Street | Alpharetta, GA 30009