Forensic Engineering For Automobile Accident Reconstruction

Journal Article Title: Forensic Engineering For Automobile Accident Reconstruction
Article Author(s): CHI, MICHAEL, P.E., Vossoughi, Jafar
Volume: 1
Volume #: 2
Month: December
Year: 1984

Abstract:

Passenger car accidents alone rank among the top five causes of death for the general population and in particular constitute the leading cause of death for the one to twenty-four year old age group. Personal and product liability analysis requires an interdisciplinary research between pathologists and forensic engineers through mathematical modeling and laboratory tests. Similarly, in accident reconstruction a forensic engineer teamed in a multidisciplinary practice with pathologists and attorneys can produce a vivid scenario of the accident using a limited input obtained through diverse sources of information. In this article, various simulation programs relevant to accident investigation are briefly discussed. Dynamics of a simplified two-car crash is heuristically presented and finally the role of the experience forensic engineer and his collaborative effort with pathologists and attorneys in reconstructing a disputed accident are emphasized.