Accident reconstruction is an investigative tool that can be extremely helpful in determining the cause of a car accident. It is often used to identify the responsible party or parties during a car accident claim in San Bernardino. Whether or not you need accident reconstruction to strengthen your legal case depends on the circumstances.
What Is Accident Reconstruction?
Accident reconstruction uses science, technology and diagrams to ascertain how a motor vehicle accident occurred. During accident reconstruction, specialists analyze the circumstances and available evidence surrounding a car crash. Crash experts will examine evidence such as photographs, motor vehicle damage, witness statements, video footage, and road and weather conditions to re-create the car accident.
What Is the Purpose of Accident Reconstruction?
The purpose or goal of accident reconstruction is to present a detailed picture of how and why a car accident took place. Its mission is to provide a clear diagram or depiction of the crash, including the directions both vehicles were traveling, the speed of both cars, the points of impact, contributing factors and any potential actions either driver could have taken to avoid the collision.
With accident reconstruction evidence, a car accident victim can show an insurance company, judge or jury exactly who is at fault. Reconstruction using tools such as 3D models and visual simulations can make fault clear. It can help a plaintiff or injured party prove that one or more defendants are responsible for the collision and should therefore be held financially accountable (liable).
How Can Accident Reconstruction Strengthen Your Case?
How Does Accident Reconstruction Help a Car Accident Claim?
When done by experts, accident reconstruction can provide extremely strong evidence during a car accident claim. In California, an injured car accident victim can receive financial compensation from the person or party that caused the crash. However, the victim or plaintiff must provide evidence establishing negligence and causation.
Accident reconstruction can help a plaintiff prove a car accident claim in multiple ways, such as:
- Re-create the sequence of events that led to a crash
- Prove that one or more parties violated a traffic law
- Show where and how the collision took place
- Provide clear, objective evidence of who is liable
- Uncover hidden evidence or proof of third-party liability
- Support a victim’s injury claim by linking the injury to the mechanics of the accident
- Demonstrate that the crash could have been avoided
- Add to a victim’s negotiating power
If you choose to hire experts for accident reconstruction during your California car accident case, this could support your version of events and help you prove the truth of what you are claiming. It can serve as critical evidence that makes a real difference to the outcome of your injury claim.
Do You Need Accident Reconstruction During Your Injury Case?
In California, the “at-fault” car insurance law requires an injured accident victim to prove that someone else owed them a duty of care, breached or violated this duty of care, caused the collision, and that they suffered damages or injuries as a result. This can be a difficult burden of proof to meet. Accident reconstruction is a strong form of evidence.
Deciding whether or not you need to hire experts for accident reconstruction is a choice that you should make with help from a car accident attorney. A lawyer can review your car accident case and the evidence available to determine if accident reconstruction would benefit you.
At Jacoby & Meyers, our San Bernardino personal injury lawyers accept car accident clients and represent them without charging any attorney’s fees unless we win the case. This includes fronting the costs of any hired experts for their accident reconstruction services. Contact us today for a free initial case review to learn more.