Crash Data Services, LLC
| Providing quality traffic accident investigation and reconstruction |
Side impact or angled collisions are more likely to
involve serious personal injury or death than frontal or
rear end accidents at similar speeds. This is because
the side of a vehicle is relatively soft and offers far less
protection than the front or rear of the same vehicle.
Even with the addition of side and head curtain airbags
in many modern vehicles, occupants can be seriously
injured during angled crashes.
involve serious personal injury or death than frontal or
rear end accidents at similar speeds. This is because
the side of a vehicle is relatively soft and offers far less
protection than the front or rear of the same vehicle.
Even with the addition of side and head curtain airbags
in many modern vehicles, occupants can be seriously
injured during angled crashes.
The conservation of linear momentum assumes a closed system, in that the total momentum
before impact is the same after impact. Based on this assumption, as long as 10 of the following
12 basic variables are known or can be determined, accident reconstruction experts can solve for
the remaining 2 unknown variables. A linear momentum analysis deals only with speeds
immediately before impact and immediately after separation from the angled collision.
before impact is the same after impact. Based on this assumption, as long as 10 of the following
12 basic variables are known or can be determined, accident reconstruction experts can solve for
the remaining 2 unknown variables. A linear momentum analysis deals only with speeds
immediately before impact and immediately after separation from the angled collision.
| In 2003, when side impact testing began, only 1 in 5 vehicles earned a ranking of "good". - IIHS |
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| Side Impact / Angle Traffic Accident Reconstruction Expert |
Angled collisions generally happen at intersections and are usually caused by one car violating a
traffic signal or failing to yield the right of way.
When investigating angled crashes, the most common method used by accident
reconstructionists to determine speed is linear momentum analysis.
traffic signal or failing to yield the right of way.
When investigating angled crashes, the most common method used by accident
reconstructionists to determine speed is linear momentum analysis.
In some cases, the nature of the known variables may make a momentum analysis sensitive, in
that changing a known variable by just a small percent may change the unknown/derived
variables by a considerable amount. For example, when vehicles of significantly different
weights collide (truck vs car), a small adjustment of the approach or departure angles greatly
affects the derived impact speed for the larger vehicle. Our expert accident reconstructionists
will perform a sensitivity check in order to ensure reliable opinions.
that changing a known variable by just a small percent may change the unknown/derived
variables by a considerable amount. For example, when vehicles of significantly different
weights collide (truck vs car), a small adjustment of the approach or departure angles greatly
affects the derived impact speed for the larger vehicle. Our expert accident reconstructionists
will perform a sensitivity check in order to ensure reliable opinions.
| Pre-Impact Variables: |
| Post-Impact Variables: |
| Weight Vehicle 1 Weight Vehicle 2 Approach Angle of Vehicle 1 Approach Angle of Vehicle 2 Impact Speed of Unit 1 Impact Speed of Unit 2 |
| Weight Vehicle 1 Weight Vehicle 2 Departure Angle of Vehicle 1 Departure Angle of Vehicle 2 Post-Impact Speed of Unit 1 Post-Impact Speed of Unit 2 |
Momentum analysis is based on the conservation of momentum. Every vehicle in motion has a
property called momentum, which can be quantified by multiplying the vehicle's weight by its
speed. Momentum is a vector quantity, in that it also has a direction. Since, in side impact
collisions, the vehicles approach at angles that are not parallel to one another, the linear
momentum analysis must employ the concepts of trigonometry to mathematically analyze the
impact.
property called momentum, which can be quantified by multiplying the vehicle's weight by its
speed. Momentum is a vector quantity, in that it also has a direction. Since, in side impact
collisions, the vehicles approach at angles that are not parallel to one another, the linear
momentum analysis must employ the concepts of trigonometry to mathematically analyze the
impact.
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