The fact that auto crashes happen all the time doesn’t make them any more bearable. Sometimes, motor vehicle collisions are so overwhelming and traumatic that victims suffer the consequences for the rest of their lives. The good news is that you don’t have to bear the financial burden of an accident someone else caused. Instead, with help from an experienced car accident lawyer, Smyrna, GA, you’ll get fair compensation for your injuries.
However, it’s important to note that being a victim in an auto collision doesn’t automatically qualify you for damages. Instead, you’ll have to provide ample evidence to prove that the negligent party’s wrongful act caused your injuries.
In other words, even the most genuine injury claims will be dead on arrival without credible evidence. Unfortunately, lack of sufficient evidence is one of the common challenges preventing auto crash victims from a successful injury claim.
If you’re in such a situation, it’s easy to become worried about your chances of getting the compensation you deserve. Luckily, you can easily navigate this problem by hiring the services of an accident reconstruction expert. Read on to find out how accident reconstruction specialists can help you gather evidence even when they seem non-existent.
What Does Accident Reconstruction Mean?
Accident reconstruction is an aspect of causation forensics that focuses on discovering what led to an auto collision. As the name implies, accident reconstruction involves recreating the circumstances that caused the crash. They do this by analyzing the hints from the physical evidence they find at the accident scene.
Then, they draw their conclusions by studying the activities that took place before, during, and after the crash. In other words, accident reconstruction involves proving how and why an accident happened by following a reverse order of events. That’s because the vehicles’ final positions are already certain.
So, accident reconstructionists start from the endpoint and move backward to the point of impact in their investigation. They may also go as far as getting information about what happened before impact.
How Do Accident Reconstruction Experts Recreate a Crash?
Accident reconstruction specialists have adequate knowledge of physics and engineering. They may also have law enforcement experience, which they combine with their scientific knowledge to recreate crash sites and determine at-fault parties.
Usually, they’ll consider important factors like mechanical faults, weather conditions, visibility issues, etc., in reaching their conclusion. Other pieces of evidence an accident reconstructionist works with include police reports, photos, videos, eyewitness statements, accident location, event data recorders, and reconstruction software.
Event Data Recorder (EDR)
Also called a black box, an EDR is an internal device found in some automobiles. This device is highly beneficial to accident reconstructionists as it contains valuable details about how the crash occurred.
Accident reconstruction specialists can determine a car’s speed, crash duration, front seat position, brake applications, etc., from a black box. They can also gather information about airbag deployment, the number of impacts, and the size of an occupant with an EDR.
Reconstruction Software
Reconstructionists may use the Simulation Model of Automobile Collisions (SMAC) to examine the road’s surface condition and analyze braking and steering data. Also called the computer accident reconstruction software, SMAC is also beneficial in creating animations to describe how the crash occurred.
In the end, the accident expert’s findings can answer many questions like:
- Which parties weren’t putting on their seatbelts?
- Is the crash responsible for my injuries?
- What maneuvers did the drivers make before the crash?
- Did any of the motorists apply their brakes before the collision?
- Were the automobiles involved in the crash poorly maintained?
Why Do I Need an Accident Reconstruction Expert in My Personal Injury Case?
As you already know, the primary goal of an accident reconstructionist is to determine the cause of your crash. With the information they gather from their investigation, they can help your auto collision case by:
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Establishing Liability
Did the defendant owe you a duty of care? If yes, did they breach that duty? Did the breach of responsibility of care cause the accident and your injuries? These are the important questions to determine when attempting to establish the at-fault party’s negligence.
Unfortunately, while these elements may seem easy to prove, establishing fault is among the most challenging aspects of a claim. That’s especially when there was no surveillance footage and eyewitnesses.
Luckily, an experienced accident reconstruction expert can provide evidence to determine liability. For example, they will provide information on whether the other motorist’s speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, etc., caused the accident.
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Proving Your Innocence
Georgia follows the modified comparative negligence rule in apportioning liability to at-fault parties. This means that you may only file for compensation if you’re less than 50% at fault for the accident.
Unfortunately, it also means that you’ll bear responsibility for your part in the crash. So, if you’re 20% at fault for your injuries, you’ll receive only 80% of the full compensation sum.
Sometimes, the defendants may try to reduce your liability by pinning some misconduct on you. For example, while they may admit to speeding, they may also allege that you were distracted. Fortunately, accident reconstructionists can prove your innocence in such cases. They’ll provide evidence showing that you deserve full damages since you didn’t disobey traffic rules.
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Resolve Contradicting Evidence
Contradictory evidence is one of the common problems Smyrna, GA, auto crash victims face in their personal injury cases. This happens when the other drivers and occupants tell a conflicting story from yours. As such, it will be your word against theirs, especially when there are no eyewitnesses to clarify facts.
Fortunately, accident reconstruction experts are your best bet for resolving contradicting evidence. They’ll analyze the circumstances surrounding your case and clarify the gray areas.
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Serving as Expert Witnesses
Expert witnesses are professionals with more in-depth knowledge of a discipline or field than ordinary/laymen. Therefore, they can give unbiased opinions concerning issues within their expertise.
Fortunately, Georgia courts recognize accident reconstruction specialists as expert witnesses. This means they can strengthen your case by giving testimonies supporting your allegations.
Do I Need a Car Accident Lawyer, Smyrna, GA, After Contacting an Accident Reconstruction Expert?
While hiring accident reconstructionists may be essential in proving your claims, they can’t replace personal injury attorneys. Therefore, it’s wise to hire a reputable attorney first, then work with the accident reconstruction experts they choose.
This is because your lawyer has built connections with experienced accident reconstructionists. So, you can be sure they’ll select the best professionals to work on your case.
Speak With the Best Car Accident Lawyer, Smyrna, GA, ASAP!
Does your personal injury case require the services of an experienced accident reconstructionist? A reputable Georgia personal injury attorney at Jamie Ballard Law can help. We’ll handle your claim from start to finish and ensure you get the best compensation possible. Schedule a free consultation with us now.
