Representation of Actual Reconstruction Methods for Car-to-Car Accidents; as Confirmed by Crash Tests

Those employing the methods of accident reconstruction include, on the one hand, accident researchers and, on the other, those who prepare expert studies intended for forensic use. The most frequent question posed in connection with accident reconstruction--that of determining the pre-crash velocity of the vehicle--applies equally for members of both of these groups. The requirements placed on the investigation results, however, are different for the two cases. As a rule, a single value will suffice for accident research for further statistical processing of data. In legal proceedings, however, the requirement is for description of the uncertainties involved by means of providing a range of investigative results. In the determination of a single solution value, the uncertainty consists of the fact that the position of this solution within an undisputed existing tolerance range cannot be determined. As a result of using the approach of tolerance ranges for the individual parameters, so-called solution fields can be ascertained, in which the actual solution is bound to lie.