Police traditionally used chalk marks, tape measures, and roller wheels for recording measurements and skid marks when reconstructing what happened at an accident scene. In the recent past, police switched to laser-guided tools to assist in their calculations. However, even with the advent of lasers, accident reconstruction takes hours, resulting in road closures and dangerous scenarios for first responders working accident scenes.
Police agencies are now moving to drones which are piloted remotely and take high-resolution photos. These photos are transmitted into a computer and run through software creating a 3D model reconstructing an accident scene. Drones have a proven track record as they are already in use by emergency-response agencies to track wildfires and conduct search and rescue missions.
Drones are not only helping law enforcement understand how car wrecks occur. Accident reconstruction using drones is now used in helping judges and juries really see how an accident happened.
Benefits of Drones Investigating Car Wrecks
Drones offer a true picture of an accident scene. The footage from a drone includes both video footage and still photos. Using the photos and video footage, an accident re-constructionist can create an animation of how vehicles crashed together on a roadway.
There are several reasons drones are used now in investigating car wrecks, including the following:
Drones dramatically reduce the time it takes to document accident scenes.
Drones cover larger distances faster than any other surveying tool, cutting time spent in the roadway to nearly one fifth and actual measuring time to around one third. Rather than deploying a whole team, one person can remotely operate the drone.
Drones reduce time spent on the roadway which lowers human casualties and financial costs.
Physically deploying a team and closing a road to document an accident site is costly and puts lives in danger. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), every minute an accident continues to be a hazard increases the chance of additional accidents by 2.8 percent.
Drones offer measurable output that is usable as evidence in court.
Drone data produces a reliable diagram that can be shown in court to determine the cause of the accident. The scene is recreated in 3D, there are still photos and video, and a scaled aerial representation of the scene.
Drones make collecting data easier.
Drones require less training than other methods of data collection. Drones have automated flight planning and do not require manpower or personnel. Often, drones can even be accessed from a smartphone.
Drones are quickly becoming a standard tool not only in the hands of law enforcement, but also in the hands of accident re-constructionists. This allows personal injury attorneys a new and valuable tool in dealing with serious car wrecks.
What to Do if You Are in a Car Wreck
If you are involved in a car wreck, it is important to know what to do. If possible, follow these steps:
- Get to a safe spot. Move your car to the shoulder if possible. If not, turn on your hazard lights.
- If it is safe to get out of the car, put the car in park and turn off the engine. Set the hand brake. Check on other parties who are involved to see if anyone is hurt.
- Call 911. Report any injuries. Ask for the police to be sent.
- When the police arrive, report what happened. Even if you think you did something wrong, it is important for you not to admit fault. Allow law enforcement to objectively assess the situation and write their own report.
- If the accident is minor and no police come to the scene, go to the police department to file a report.
- Gather as much information as possible. Get the names of all drivers and passengers. Exchange insurance information. Note the make, model, and license plate number of all other involved vehicles.
- Get witness statements if you can. Take the badge number of officers that come to the scene. Take pictures of the cars and the accident scene if possible.
- Contact your insurance agent and file your claim for damages.
Contact an Experienced Arkansas Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one were injured in a serious car wreck, you need excellent legal representation on your side. With offices in Little Rock, Bentonville, Conway, and Arkadelphia, The Law Offices of Alan LeVar are experienced, aggressive, accident attorneys ready to help you.
Call the professionals at Levar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers to schedule a free case review and discuss whether you may be entitled to recover damages such as medical expenses, lost wages from time missed at work, repair or replacement of damaged property, pain and suffering, and more.
