DUI / DWI cases that involve accident, injury, or death require a sophisticated defense strategy designed to protect the driver from serious repercussions. A Florida attorney who focuses on drunk driving defense often will employ an independent forensic expert to reconstruct an accident and uncover evidence that points to the defendant’s innocence.
An independent accident reconstructionist working for the defense will recreate events leading up to the crash and the circumstances of the collision itself, and determine whether the accident could have been avoided. If the collision was unavoidable under any circumstances, then a jury must decide that alcohol did not contribute to the crash.
It’s crucial for the expert to examine the accident scene and the vehicles involved as soon as possible, because critical evidence such as skid marks can disappear quickly. The reconstructionist will take pictures of the vehicles and the crash scene, and preserve any evidence that will aid the defense. The expert also will take extensive measurements of the accident scene.
A skilled accident reconstructionalist will examine every detail of the accident, including road conditions, traffic patterns, weather conditions, lighting, etc. Skid marks are especially revealing, because they demonstrate whether the driver reacted to imminent danger or were unaware of the impending accident.
An accident specialist will determine whether any of the vehicles involved in an accident had unaddressed safety recalls that contributed to the crash. Examining the vehicles’ headlights, brake lights, and other equipment will establish whether all safety features were functioning properly.
The expert will examine police reports and other document to determine points of impact and other key factors. Scuff marks on vehicles also can reveal a great deal of information about the dynamics of the collision.
An experienced accident reconstructionalist will interview as many witnesses as possible, including the accused drunk driver and any passengers, to obtain the clearest picture possible of the circumstances of the collision.
Police and prosecutors work hard to gather every shred of evidence that points to the defendant’s guilt, but an independent expert can gather often-overlooked information that supports the defendant’s not-guilty plea. A Florida attorney experienced in drunk driving defense has access to top accident reconstructionalists who are skilled at uncovering evidence that aids in a driver’s defense. |
Accident Reconstruction
Introduction to Accident Reconstruction
