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Accident investigation and accident
reconstruction are commonly heard terms, but what exactly are
they?
After a motor vehicle accident occurs, particularly one
resulting in severe injuries or death, it will usually be
investigated by a professional accident investigator and
sometimes may be reconstructed. There are two primary types of
people that perform these duties, the police and independent
investigators.
The police will investigate an accident with the intention of
determining if any criminal action took place in the accident.
Some of the things the police look for are speeding,
hours-of-service violations, mechanical violations, alcohol use,
drug use, etc. For example, if a truck driver is exceeding his
hours of service and causes a serious accident because he fell
asleep at the wheel, he will likely be criminally charged. If
that accident results in a fatality, the charge will likely be
homicide.
Independent accident investigators are normally
hired by the insurance companies or attorneys of the parties
involved in an accident. The job of the independent investigator
is to analyze the causes of the accident so that liability
and/or financial responsibility can be determined. These
independent investigators are often off-duty police officers,
retired police officers, automotive technologists, or engineers.
However, investigators from many other backgrounds are also
common.
Check any one of our sponsored links for more information on
accident investigators.
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