You're traveling on a busy Wisconsin highway when your life changes in an instant. A massive commercial truck veers out of its lane and slams into your vehicle, leaving you shocked and injured. In the chaotic moments that follow, you may not know where to turn for help or what steps to take next.
After a serious trucking accident, uncovering the facts of what happened is essential to protecting your rights and recovering the compensation you deserve. This is where accident reconstructionists enter the picture. These highly trained experts use cutting-edge technology and scientific techniques to analyze the physical evidence and determine how a crash occurred—and who should be held accountable.
If you've been hurt in a Wisconsin truck accident, keep reading to learn more about accident reconstruction's critical role in building a strong legal case.
What Do Accident Reconstructionists Do?
Accident reconstruction is a branch of forensic engineering that involves investigating the causes and circumstances of a motor vehicle crash. Specialists in this field use principles of physics, vehicle dynamics, and engineering to interpret physical evidence and draw conclusions about how an accident happened.
The primary goals of accident reconstruction are to determine:
- The positions and speeds of the vehicles before, during, and after impact
- The sequence of events leading up to the collision
- Whether the drivers took any evasive actions (braking, swerving, etc.)
- If any mechanical issues or defects contributed to the crash
- Road and weather conditions or other environmental factors
- The severity and causes of injuries suffered by vehicle occupants
To gather the data needed to make these determinations, accident reconstructionists visit the crash scene, take measurements, photograph the site and damaged vehicles, and collect and document all relevant physical evidence. They may also review police reports, medical records, and witness statements.
Preserving and Interpreting Black Box Data
One of the most valuable pieces of evidence in a truck accident case is the data stored in the truck's event data recorder (EDR), also known as its "black box." These devices capture a wealth of information about the vehicle's speed, braking, steering, and other factors in the seconds before a crash.
Accident reconstructionists can download and interpret the black box data to get an objective picture of the truck driver's actions prior to impact. This information often plays a key role in establishing whether the trucker was negligent.
However, black box data is only preserved for a limited time and can be overwritten if the truck returns to service. To protect this critical evidence, accident reconstructionists and attorneys must act quickly to secure the EDR and obtain a court order to prevent the trucking company from destroying it.
Analyzing Physical Evidence from the Crash Scene
In addition to black box data, accident reconstructionists carefully document and analyze every piece of physical evidence from the crash site. This may include:
- Skid marks, yaw marks, and other tire track evidence
- Vehicle debris and parts
- Fluid spills and stains
- Damage to guardrails, signposts, and other roadside structures
- Damage to the vehicles themselves
- Paint transfers between vehicles
- Final resting positions of the vehicles
By meticulously logging and interpreting these clues, reconstructionists can often determine several facts about the accident. These facts include the angle and point of impact, the post-impact trajectory and rotation of the vehicles, and whether either driver took any last-second evasive actions.
Accident reconstruction experts also use 3D laser scanning and drones to create detailed diagrams and animations of how the crash occurred. These compelling visual aids can be powerful evidence in settlement negotiations or at trial.
The Role of Expert Testimony in Truck Crash Cases
Presenting the complex scientific data gathered by an accident reconstructionist to a judge and jury often requires expert witness testimony. In a truck accident injury case, experienced reconstructionists may take the witness stand to:
- Explain their credentials and why they are qualified to interpret the evidence
- Walk through their analysis of the crash in an easy-to-understand way
- Render an expert opinion on the cause(s) of the accident
- Discuss how their findings support the plaintiff's theory of liability
The testimony of a knowledgeable accident reconstructionist can lend strong credibility to a truck crash claim and help victims recover the full compensation they deserve. An experienced truck accident lawyer will have access to a network of respected experts who can provide this valuable service.
Get the Help You Deserve
If you've been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a Wisconsin truck accident, you may not know where to turn for legal guidance. At Hupy and Abraham, S.C., we have over 50 years of experience fighting for the rights of crash victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa.
Our dedicated attorneys have the knowledge and resources to handle every aspect of your truck accident claim, starting with a swift and thorough investigation of the crash. We can deploy accident reconstruction experts and other specialists right away to collect and preserve vital evidence before it disappears.
We will put our extensive experience and advocacy skills to work in pursuing maximum compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. Our team is the largest personal injury law firm in the Midwest, and we have recovered more than $1 billion for over 70,000 clients.
You don't have to navigate the aftermath of a devastating truck accident on your own. We look forward to getting you started on the road to recovery.
