This study was initiated to determine if a technician, collecting data on a follow-on basis, could obtain data of sufficient quality to allow accurate simulation of accident events. A sample of twenty-one cases was investigated on-scene using a multidisciplinary methodology. After a pre-determined delay, these accidents were investigated a second time using a single technician. The follow-on technician attempted to collect the same data elements as the on-scene teams. Comparisons of these efforts are presented and discussed in this report. Although general investigation techniques and findings are also presented, primary emphasis is given to those areas which influence accident reconstruction. The latter areas include the number of vehicles examined within each approach, the incidence of partially repaired vehicles, cdc application, determination of vehicle weights, discrepancies between vehicle crush dimensions, and discrepancies between physical evidence measurements. Each of these areas is related to specific crash program outputs. (Author/publisher).
Abstract