CASE STUDY: Video & Animation Vehicle Accidents

QuickTime
Plug-In Required

Animation & Multi-media Graphics.
You know courtrooms are becoming dominated by effective visual
presentation of the complex issues of the case. We offer a wide
array of communications services to enhance demonstrative
exhibits. From 3D animations to full-length video productions -
our staff of artists work directly with our clients from the initial
consultation to the final production. Each phase of production
is verified by an expert, an approved Rimkus approach, which
meets admissibility requirements of the courts.

Rimkus demonstrative exhibits:
a. Computer-generated 3D animation
b. Broadcast quality video
c. Interactive multi-media
e. Graphic arts & posters
f. Site photography
g. Digital video and editing
f. Working models
h. Training videos

Our contact lines are open all the time, 24/7, Call 800.580.3228 for an immediate response.
Or click here to instantly send us an assignment.

DETAILED CASE STUDY:
Did a snow pile cause the accident? On a January afternoon a 1994 International
tractor/semi-trailer was traveling east on US Highway approaching the area of the
parking lot at a Mall. A 1989 Ford Tempo was exiting the parking lot from the Mall
onto the highway. Reportedly, the International collided with the Ford.

Rimkus Consulting Group was given the assignment to investigate the accident
and render an opinion on its cause - specifically to reconstruct the collision and
determine if any view obstructions contributed to the cause of the accident.

In the course of our investigation we reviewed the depositions of the parties involved
and answers to interrogatories, expert reports, police report and visited the site to
take measurements and video.

Rimkus Results.

1.The Ford was most likely traveling at 10 miles per hour (mph) at the time it was struck by the International.

2.The International was traveling approximately 31 mph at impact and approximately 35 mph at the time the brakes locked up and started skidding.

3.At impact, the front bumper of the International tractor struck the driver’s side of the Ford, towards the front. The right side of the bumper hit directly at the door.

4.The driver of the International attempted to swerve to his left prior to impact, while braking heavily but could not avoid the impact. After impact, the tractor pushed the Ford down the road into the westbound lane. Both vehicles came to rest on the north side of the roadway.

5.To analyze possible obstructions to the view of oncoming traffic for a driver exiting the Mall parking lot onto the highway, we inspected the site in August of that same year. In order to simulate the mound of snow present on the day of the accident, we placed a pile of material near the pole such that the peak of the pyramid-like pile was 4 feet high and was 10 feet from the white fog line (this was in fact closer to the fog line than measured by the investigating police officer).

6. We placed a video camera at a height of 40 inches and located it at 6, 7 and 8 feet away from the fog line. We analyzed the view of oncoming traffic from the west.

7. We constructed computer animation of the location representing the approximate positions of the Ford driver’s head had she positioned her car in a normal, typical fashion prior to entering the roadway. The results indicate that one can see approximately 1500 feet when looking at 6 feet away from the fog line and 851 feet when 7 feet away. When 8 feet away, there was some partial blocking of the view from the pile of material and the pole. In this latter situation, the front bumper of the Ford would still be 3 feet away from the fog line. If any driver did have blockage, one only needed to roll forward one more foot to get a clear, unobstructed view for close to three football fields down the road.

8. Rimkus Determined this Fact: the accident occurred because the driver of the Ford failed to yield the right of way to the International and did not take time to exit the parking lot safely. When the Ford did pull out onto the roadway, the International was too close to avoid the collision. The mound of snow shown in the accident scene photographs, was actually further from the roadway and the pole than the pile of material used in our simulation. As such, it would not have obstructed the view of the Ford driver had she stopped her vehicle anywhere near a typical position of the roadway. To demonstrate this, Rimkus provided an accurate animated reconstruction of this accident both from the Ford driver’s point of view as well as the International driver’s point of view.