Accident / Reconstruction Investigation

What Is An Accident Investigation?

Each day across the United States, people and machines react unexpectedly, causing thousands of accidents. Each day, across the country, accidents claim lives or cause permanent injuries. When an accident occurs, it is often not enough to simply say that something went wrong. An accident investigation and accident reconstruction can determine exactly what happened and also can help prevent future accidents. Additionally, accident investigators can provide expert testimony in trials to hold the correct party accountable for the damage incurred by the accident.

Are There Different Types of Accident Investigation?

The most common accident investigation deals with vehicular accidents. Car wrecks happen daily and it helps to have a third party on your side when insurance companies and police are dragging their feet dealing with your car accident. Accident investigations, however, are not limited to automobiles. Marine investigations, for example, investigate boating accidents and other accidents on the water. Employee accident investigations are often conducted by insurance companies and employers to determine what exactly occurred when an employee was injured on the job for worker compensation issues. Personal injury investigations are general types of investigations that try to get to the root of an accident in which someone was injured.

Why Do You Need An Accident Investigator?

There are plenty of reasons why people turn to accident investigation:

• To determine what caused an accident and prevent accidents in the future. If an accident has occurred on your company's premises or on your private property, an accident investigation can help you prevent similar accidents in the future.
• To reduce liability in an accident. If you don't know what really happened in an accident, you may be liable for damages and injuries. A good accident investigator can prove that you were not at fault, save you long court hassles and save you thousands of dollars.
• To get answers. Sometimes, just knowing what really happened brings a sense of closure. An accident reconstruction can tell you what really happened in a specific situation.
• To get evidence that can stand up in court. If you're trying to collect claims for an accident or need to prove that you did not cause an accident through negligence or other fault, only a qualified accident investigator can help you get the evidence you need to solidify your court case.

What Happens In An Accident Investigation?

Depending on the nature of the accident, an accident investigation can include visits to the accident site as well as interviews with witnesses and with those involved. An accident investigator or private investigator will usually attempt accident reconstruction, which means that they will try to re-create exactly what happened so they can see exactly what took place and how. Today, this often is done with computer software programs. A private investigator may also collect testimonies and other evidence that can help you determine exactly what happened in an accident. Also, investigators will document the scene with photographs and notes.

Vehicular accident investigations are a bit more specific. During the reconstruction stage, investigators will examine the point of impact, final resting positions, skid marks, scrub marks, and gouge marks. Electronic surveying equipment is typically used during this stage to recreate the accident. The investigators may also inspect each vehicle beyond the damage it has suffered. Checking components like brakes, steering, tires, suspension, and lights may shed light on the cause of the accident.

Looking For An Accident Investigator?

In each of these types of investigations, the common denominator is a qualified accident investigator. Only a good private investigator will be able to really help you and give you the evidence you need. To find a qualified private investigator in your area, use one of the most trusted Internet databases of private investigators -- PI now.com lists thousands of investigators who can help you right away.