Other collision cases are not so simple. Frequently, the attorney representing the injured person will have to retain the services of an accident reconstruction expert to determine precisely how the collision occurred, and who is at fault.
One of the tasks of this expert may include calculating when the vehicles applied their brakes, and how far the vehicles traveled after the brakes were applied. This is known as calculating the vehicle stopping distance.
The braking distance refers to the distance a vehicle will travel from the point where the brakes are fully engaged, to when it comes to a complete stop. The components that go into this calculation are the original speed of the vehicle and the amount of friction that exists between the tires and the road service. Different types of road have different ‘coefficients of friction’. Moreover, rain and icy conditions will alter the coefficient of friction.
Apportioning accident fault is further complicated by the fact that an adjustment must be made for the amount of time that passes from the first moment when a driver sees a road hazard and the time he places his foot on the brakes. Reaction times can diminish with age or with drowsiness.
From the above, you can see why an experienced personal injury attorney will often need to retain the services of an accident reconstruction expert in order to properly represent someone who has been seriously injured in a car crash.