From Crash to Courtroom: Collision Reconstruction for Lawyers and Law Enforcement
Authored by John Kwasnoski, one of America's leading experts on motor vehicle crash reconstruction, From Crash to Courtroom teaches attorneys what to look for when examining an accident reconstruction expert's report, and explains in detail numerous potential errors an attorney may encounter. Of equal importance to law enforcement professionals, Kwasnoski's work also addresses such critical issues as proper evidence collection and effective crash analysis using the correct application of mathematical equations.
"This is an important and long overdue book," says Gerald Partridge, Esq., Adjunct Professor at the National College of District Attorneys." From Crash to Courtroom will serve the trial lawyer as both a sword and a shield – providing the tools needed for dismantling the incompetent or unscrupulous collision reconstructionist, while supplying the roadmap for building a case on a solid foundation of scientific cause and effect."
About the Author: John Kwasnoski is one of the leading national experts in crash reconstruction, and co-author of three best-selling books: "Investigation and Prosecution of DWI and Vehicular Homicide," "The Officer's DUI Manual" and "Courtroom Survival." A Professor Emeritus of Forensic Physics at Western New England College, he has served as an expert in over 750 motor vehicle accident cases, including single and multiple vehicle, pedestrian, train and motorcycle crash cases. Professor Kwasnoski is also the founder of CRASH! The Science of Collisions, an educational program for high school and college students devoted to reducing young adult motor vehicle fatalities through the use of the sciences and math.
2008 Case Studies Supplement
100 additional cases written in the Crash to Courtroom format, including reference materials, trial suggestions, checklists, etc. This is in response to reader feedback about the original book, and includes topics that were not included in the original text.
Table of contents from the supplement:
- Speed from Tire Mark Evidence:
- Speed Analysis - Missing Tire Marks
- Drag Factor Measurement Disputed
- Drag Sleds Challenged as Unacceptable
- Tire Mark Evidence - Braking or Yaw Marks?
- Speed for Vehicle in Rollover/tumbling Motion
- Rear-wheel Only Motorcycle Skid
- Post-impact Speed in an Intersection Collision
- Truck Speed Determined from Skid Marks
- Accelerometer Test Yields Low f Value
- Velocity Dependence of the Drag Factor
- Matching a Vehicle to Skid Marks
- Combined Speeds Calculation in Leaving the Road Case
- Yaw Caused by Impact
- Yaw Starting on Two Surfaces
- Braking Efficiency When All Tires Are Not Braking
- Drag Factor for ABS Braking
- Time-Distance-Speed:
- Stopping Distance from a Published Chart
- Speed from Published Acceleration
- Sight Distance and Collision Avoidance
- Speed Verified by Motion in Prior Curve
- Post-impact Speed Determined from PRT of Braking Action
- A Specific PRT is Assumed
- Stopping Distance Calculated on Internet Site
- Sight Distance Approaching Point of Impact
- Car Making Left Turn in front of Motorcycle
- Damage Analysis:
- Are Damage Energies Equal for Both Vehicles?
- Damage Energy in Under-ride Collision
- Can a Utility Pole Model Be Used to Analyze a Tree Impact?
- EBS Is Not an Impact Speed
- Crush Analysis in Combined Speeds Calculation
- Frontal Crush Used in Vault Analysis
- Motorcycle Speed Determined from Crush Analysis
- Pedestrian Collisions:
- Pedestrian Walking Speed Assumption
- Pedestrian Slide-to-stop Analysis
- Acute Field of View in a Pedestrian Collision
- Head Strike Position on Windshield Used to Estimate Speed
- Assumptions in a Pedestrian Reconstruction Report
- Miscellaneous Topics:
- Air Bag Non-deploy as Evidence of Low Speed
- Air Bag Non-deploy in Side Impact
- Impact Speed from Lamp Examination
- Lamp Used to Determine Vehicle Speed
- Using Momentum to Determine Speed in Head-on Collision
- POI in Crossing the Center Line Case
- Vehicle Overturns as it Exits Highway
- Post-impact Airborne Motion
- Delta-V Added to Post-Impact Speed
- Speed from Airborne Motion
- Airborne Motion and Slide to Final Rest
- Car Splits in Two in Impact with Utility Pole
- Speed to Cause Truck to Tip Over
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