)Accident Reconstruction
The application of scientific methodology to recreate how an accident or incident occured; investigating, analyzing, and drawing conclusions about events, parameters, and causes of an accident.
- Automotive/Transportation
- Mechanical
- Industrial
- Electrical
- Hydraulic
- Chemical
- Thermodynamics/Fires
The Lab has been involved in thousands of traffic collision investigations. With extensive knowledge of vehicle kinematics, skid-mark examination, vehicle code research, signal-phase patterns, and perception-reaction analysis; we provide state-of-the-art reconstruction to uncover the facts in an accident.
Transportation Accidents
Automotive, Truck/Tractor Trailer, Bicycle, Motorcycle, Railroad, Ship, Aircraft, Pedestrian
Automotive Accidents
To unveil the cause of automotive accidents, we calculate and download Crash Data (EDR), impacts, delta velocity, velocity of G-forces, jerk, conservation of energy as well as measure crush-depth analysis.
In Red Light Disputes, High-Speed Collisions, Vehicle Rollovers, Multi-Vehicle Accidents, etc. Animations and Simulations are vital resources in re-enacting the incident to view, effectively communicate, and calculate the subject incident. Working with our Biomechanics and Human Factors specialists, we have produced and created over 200 automotive simulations.
A van fails to stop at a stop sign and collides with oncoming traffic. The van takes a tight turn onto the highway indicating he had no intention of stopping.
In heavy traffic, the number one and two lanes stopped to allow a vehicle to make a left-turn. The vehicle did not check the number three lane resulting in a collision.
Bicycle Accidents
In 2024, there were 42,000 reported bicycle accidents in the United States. Often, bicyclists endure injuries that could be prevented if they were wearing a helmet and/or other protective gear.
We conduct Accident Reconstruction, Biomechanics, and Human Factors assessments. We decipher whether it was an imminent peril or another factor that could have limited or prevented injuries/accident along with performing calculations, measurements, and collecting data supporting our peer reviewed/scientific theories.
A bicyclist was riding on a street when the battery on his electric bicycle came loose and fell to the ground. The bicyclist applied the front brakes and was ejected. He landed on a part of his head that would have been protected if he had been wearing a helmet.
The SUV driver claims to have stopped at the stop sign while the bicyclist claims that the SUV driver did not stop at the stop sign.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents are very prevalent. They can happen on the freeway, canyon, or another roadway. It is vital to wear a helmet and other protective gear to ensure a level of safety. However, motorcyclists can still get injured.
Motorcycle analysis is highly specialized. At IRSA, we have done numerous motorcycle cases using a variety of technical instruments and procedures. We include factors such as drag factor, rider trajectory, skid marks, impact velocity, and impact surface.
IRSA Engineers reconstruct the accident by doing a 3D Scan of the site, 3D scale model, obtaining the CDR information (if a vehicle was involved) as well as produce simulations/animations.
A motorcyclist, traveling on a roadway with many grade changes and curves, fails to pay attention to the intersection sign ahead. Had he been traveling at the cautionary speed of 35 mph; the accident could have been avoided.
Two kids riding on a dirt bike attempt to cross a T-intersection and failed to see the oncoming vehicle. Both motorists claim that they could not see each other through the bushes. If the dirt bike rider had stopped in the median before crossing traffic, he could have avoided the accident.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians can be struck by vehicles, motorcycles, sidewalk/curb inconsistencies, an impact velocity, or other environmental/physical factors. As a result, it can cause substantial injuries or fatalities. The movement and location of a pedestrian during an impact can help us in discerning the resulting injuries that were caused.
At IRSA, we connect the pedestrian injury and the nature of the “hit.” We look at the kinematics, dynamics, injury mechanisms, injury criteria, and other biomechanical/reconstructive aspects of a pedestrian impact.
A pedestrian walks from the bank to the Marshalls across the street. Unfortunately for the pedestrian, a Ford Edge, who had just completed a U-turn was looking in his side view mirrors in attempt to change lanes toward the left turn lane. This video demonstrates that had the pedestrian been looking towards her right, she would have had a clear view of the approaching traffic and would have seen a vehicle close enough to constitute a hazard.
A pedestrian runs into the roadway directly in front of a vehicle. The vehicle reacts by swerving and braking, but is still unable to avoid striking the pedestrian.
Truck/Tractor Trailer Accidents
Over 150,000 tractor trailer accidents occur in the United States each year.
IRSA creates simulations, calculations, and other scientific methods to assist in Accident Reconstruction, Biomechanics, and Human Factor outcomes.
We perform truck crash data retrieval, which is different than vehicle CDR’s.
A motorist under the influence enters into the opposite lane of travel in order to pass a tractor trailer. As a result, an oncoming vehicle swerves onto the dirt shoulder to avoid a collision and over-corrects to get back on the highway and loses control of their vehicle.
A tractor trailer makes an unsafe lane change into a Lexus. The viewpoints of the various parties are depicted.
Industrial Accidents
Construction sites, forklifts, cranes, pressure vessels, punch presses, rotating machinery, and radiation exposure.
Accidents can occur anytime and anywhere. In regard to industrial accidents, we provide opinions that have been supported by calculations, testing, simulations, scientific concepts, and peer reviewed findings
An employee of a grocery store is using a hand-operated forklift and fails to pay attention to the vehicles in the parking lot.
A roof company employee was moving a welder along the top of an unfinished roof structure. While moving along a truss line, the OSB deflected causing the tire of the welder cart to get stuck in a trough created by the OSB deflection. After recruiting some help, the weight of the welder cart and additional employees ultimately caused the joist hangers to fail and a section of the roof collapsed. This video shows the effect of the removal of a truss line that was in the original plans.
IRSA also handles criminal events as it pertains to various theories of Accident Reconstruction, such as the angle of injury, impact forces, delta-V’s, bullet trajectories, and time/distance analyses.
For site inspections, the Lab has professional quality, multi-camera and video capabilities that allow scene re-creations to be simultaneously documented from multiple viewpoints. These views can be synced together to produce useful visual demonstrations with professional results.