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Bicyclist and Van Collision Investigation

Case Study

Collision Investigation

A bicyclist and van collide near an intersection, causing severe injury to the bicyclist. Was the bicyclist riding on the primary roadway parallel with the vehicle as alleged, or did the bicyclist enter the path of the vehicle from a residential driveway obscured by foliage as indicated by the vehicle operator? What does the impact angle and location reveal about what happened?  Could this accident have been avoided?

S-E-A Reconstructionists were asked to investigate the accident and determine what happened. S-E-A responded by collecting all the available data including vehicular evidence, environmental evidence, and human evidence. By applying a scientific methodology of collecting and analyzing data, and determining scientifically consistent findings, S-E-A was able to reconstruct the actual accident scenario.

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S-E-A Physics-Based Animation of the Incident

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Assigned Task:

To perform the analysis, S-E-A took the following steps:

  • Researched specifications for involved vehicles, as well as historical aerial and street view imagery of accident location.
  • Performed site inspection of the accident location with 3D scanner, aerial photography, measurements, photographs, and videos.
  • Performed inspection of the subject vehicles with documentation, airbag control module (ACM) and GPS unit imagery.
  • Performed reconstruction calculations, camera matching, and technical analysis of the vehicle damage and final resting place.
  • Performed damage pattern analysis and testing of bike tires and van impact configuration
  • Performed simulations of the accident scenarios.
  • Researched rules of the road for roadway users and bicyclists.
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Evidence was evaluated resulting in the following findings:

  • The van was traveling at approximately 25 mph, while the bicyclist was traveling approximately 12 mph.
  • The “potato chip” shape of the bicycle tire as well as patterns on the van indicated a side impact with the van, not a head-on impact.
  • Paint transfer and damage on the van also indicate a side impact, and not a head-on impact.
  • Additionally, the final rest position of the bicyclist aligns with reconstruction calculations, peer-reviewed literature, and PC-Crash and HVE simulations, again indicating a side impact.
  • The bicyclist emerged from behind the foliage in the manner described by the vehicle operator.
  • Given the chosen path and speed of the bicyclist, the van could not have avoided the accident.
  • The accident would not have happened had the bicyclist not crossed into the path of the van.

How can we help?

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