The techniques for reconstructing motor vehicle collisions are similar whether they involve passenger cars, pickups, SUVs, and even large trucks. There are, however, unique challenges involved in the reconstruction of All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and snowmobile collisions. The first challenge is a lack of data. Unlike other types of vehicles, far less standardized testing and […]
Until recently, automotive safety efforts have focused on reducing the likelihood of occupant injuries or fatalities during a collision. In the past decade, however, the automotive world has shifted its focus to active safety: systems designed to prevent collisions in the first place. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is the first active safety system that assists […]
With increasing media coverage of concussions comes increased awareness of the incidence and consequences of this often misunderstood injury. Concussions, also known as mild traumatic brain injuries, typically resolve in days or weeks, but can have long-term effects in a small percentage of injured individuals. When concussion forms part of a personal injury claim, the […]
Accidents involving heavy vehicles can result in large injury and damage claims. The key to resolving these claims efficiently and fairly may be contained in one of the many on-board computer modules found in modern vehicles. The electronic engine control module, or ECM, is the most common source of electronic crash data in heavy trucks […]
Witness evidence following a car accident can be a tricky thing. Some witnesses recall considerable detail, whereas others recall very little. A witness may accurately recall portions of an event, but then confuse the sequence of events or inaccurately estimate distances and times. Some witnesses may even alter or exaggerate their evidence to try to […]
What makes a speed limit reasonable, appropriate, and enforceable? An accurate and thoughtful response requires an understanding of both the California Vehicle Code (CVC) and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD). The CAMUTCD states, “The setting of speed limits can be controversial and requires a rational and defensible determination to maintain public […]
Seventy-eight percent of crashes are estimated to involve driver inattention. Of these crashes, many are related to drivers who distract themselves by attempting to multitask. The graph below shows the various multitasking activities that commonly distract drivers before a crash Multitasking generally impairs performance at each individual task. Drivers cannot look in two places at […]
Wheels suddenly detach from moving cars and trucks more often than many people think. These ‘wheel separations’ can lead to serious injuries from the vehicle losing control, from the separated wheel colliding with another vehicle or pedestrian, or from another vehicle maneuvering to avoid the projectile. When a wheel separation occurs on a highway, the […]
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is a US government agency whose job it is to protect consumers by recalling unsafe products from the marketplace. After identifying a potentially unsafe consumer product, the CPSC, at its discretion, may decide to investigate and if warranted issue a recall. The manufacturer, distributors and retailers of a recalled product […]
When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, liability can turn on whether the pedestrian was in a legal crosswalk. This determination can be tricky because, according to the California Vehicle Code, not all legal crosswalks are marked. What might appear to the casual observer as jaywalking because the pedestrian crossed outside of a marked crosswalk, may […]