Crash Animation Using
Virtual Crash Software
It can be difficult to showcase a crash with little physical evidence available in a remote area of the country. That’s why when a snowplow pulled out in front of an oncoming vehicle and caused a crash, Attorney Keith Vance of Springs Law Group came to Iconographics for an accurate and powerful forensic animation of the liability, resulting in a favorable settlement.
Forensic Animation of Crash
CHALLENGE
Due to the snowplow pulling out in front of the pickup at the last moment, the crash was unavoidable. The Defense disputed liability and claimed the truck was speeding downhill. Our client contested that he drove well under the speed limit but the plow cut him off and pulled out without stopping or looking at oncoming traffic. The crash occurred on a snow and ice-covered roadway, leaving no telltale physical evidence like skidmarks or gouges. Few photos of the crash existed and the vehicles were no longer available to inspect.
The biggest challenge was to construct an accurate recreation of the crash with few materials available and a short turnaround.
"Iconographics helped the insurance company see the light to reach a very favorable settlement in an extremely difficult contested liability case. Great group to work with!"
-Keith Vance, Springs Law Group
VISUAL STRATEGY
Our Forensic Animation team created a visual that clearly showed the pickup prudently driving down the snow and ice-covered roadway and being cut off by the snowplow failing to yield the right of way. To create a reliable recreation that would achieve the visual objectives, Iconographics constructed the animation by:
Accurately Modeling the Crash Site
Challenge: There was no survey data available from the crash scene. A site inspection was not possible in the time available.
Solution: Iconographics acquired U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) orthorectified aerial imagery and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data for topographic vertical accuracy. This reference data was used to ensure the downhill slope of the roadway was correct.
The roadway alignment was traced on the USGS aerial.
The roadway was projected down upon the USGS DEM terrain.
The modeled roadway underwent several checks to ensure it was accurate to the USGS reference elevation data.
A pseudocolor gradient was mapped across the vertical surface to detect any bumps or potholes.
Bands of color concentrated in a depression or hill are clearly visible as a rainbow.
The modeled roadway was imported into Virtual CRASH 5, an accident reconstruction software,
to simulate the crash using the roadway elevation derived from the USGS topography.
Snow and trees are added to the modeled roadway and USGS terrain in the animation software.
Using True-Scale Vehicles
Challenge: The vehicles were not available to inspect after the crash. No scan data and a limited amount of photos existed to reference.
Solution: The snow plow dimensions were provided by the expert. The Toyota dimensions were procured from the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals (CARSP) database.
3D models of vehicles used in the animation are accurately scaled based on
expert dimensions and publicly available specifications.
Recreating the Vehicle Dynamics with a Validated Collision Modeling Software
Challenge: No physical evidence was left at the scene after the crash. Tire tracks in the snow had long since melted away. A handful of photos documenting the final resting location was the only record of the incident. The expert needed to accurately recreate the crash factoring in:
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The vehicle dimensions
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The weight of each vehicle
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The downward slope of the road
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The coefficient of friction for the snow and ice-covered road
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The final rest configuration of the vehicle
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Testimony of the Plaintiff driver; his pre-impact speed and braking
Solution: Using Virtual CRASH 5, a crash reconstruction software, Iconographics collaborated with the accident reconstruction expert to recreate the vehicle motion of the snow plow and pickup. Publicly available data and expert inputs were used to model the collision dynamics that corroborated the plaintiff’s testimony about his downhill speed and matched the final resting position of the vehicles shown in the police photos.
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The modeled roadway was taken into Virtual CRASH 5, an accident reconstruction software,
to simulate the crash using the roadway elevation derived from the USGS topography.
Virtual CRASH 5 was used to visualize the expert’s opinions regarding vehicle pre-impact motion,
the initial point of impact configuration, and the final rest configuration.
The vehicle motion data was then applied to the photo-realistic vehicles in the animation software.
“I have had the opportunity to work with Iconographics on a couple of cases involving animations they have developed. Iconographics is easy to work with and the animations are constructed to fit the opinions and analysis of the crash reconstructionist. The animations are developed to give the viewer a better understanding of the actual movements and driving actions of the vehicles and drivers involved in the collision. The animations are accurate and very realistic, and would serve as an excellent trial exhibit specific to your case.”
–Jason Chilson, JC Investigations
RESULT
The animation was finally rendered with nighttime lighting, vehicle headlights, tail lights, and hazard lights, as well as wintry roadway conditions and snowy weather.
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With publicly available data and photographs provided by the client, our team was able to achieve a highly accurate and visually persuasive animation. The animation reinforced Mr. Vance’s argument that the snow plow failed to yield the right of way by pulling out in front of his client and causing the crash. The exhibit showed the facts of the case and allowed it to be settled out of court for a favorable settlement.
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