The science of reconstructing a Road Traffic Collision Instructing an Expert is sometimes a tricky choice. How do you know who to trust with a high value catastrophic loss case or a Death by Dangerous Driving matter, after all standing on the steps of the Court would be a bad time to find out you have chosen poorly! I am sure that we have all heard of (or have personal experience of) constructing a case around a certain set of parameters only to find that the Expert has had to concede a number of critical points upon which your case hinged. Why is that so common, and what can you do about it?
Firstly, it is important to understand where your Expert’s experience is likely to have come from. Typically, Experts in this field come in two distinct categories – Academics or retired experienced Police Officers. The academic route often deals with the complex analysis and mathematical parts of the discipline exceptionally well. Often filled full of research papers and robust discussions of physics, however often a little underwhelming with regards to scene process, evidence and that ‘feel’ for a live collision scene. Alternatively, the Police Officer route, with an understanding of live collision scene that is unparalleled, a strong knowledge of the law, and a confidence in giving live evidence, but perhaps a little vague when it comes to propping up their opinion with cutting edge research or mathematical modelling.
