HOW DOES HAWKINS INVESTIGATE ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS?
The Police attend most serious road traffic accidents and produce a report, which contains contemporaneous information such as plans and photographs. The Police Report, witness evidence and details established from a visit to the accident scene are used to reconstruct the most probable sequence of events leading to the accident. An examination of the vehicles involved is often carried out. Consideration is also given to: • Visibility available to the driver. • Road layout and design. • Stopping distances. • Weather conditions. • Speeds of the vehicles involved. • Vehicle stability (particularly where a vehicle has overturned). • The actions of those involved. • Condition and service history of the vehicles involved, including tyres • Poor highway/pavement design and maintenance Simulation of the accident is undertaken by calculations performed both manually and by computer. We use specialised computer software to analyse the pre and post impact trajectories of vehicles, to reconstruct
