Rear End Collision & Personal Injury
As one of the most common types of vehicular accident, rear end collisions tend to take place at relatively low speeds, but this doesn’t negate the need for thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding such an accident. Rear end collisions, even those which may appear to be quite minor, can cause significant injuries to those involved.
These accidents often result in whiplash and other soft tissue injuries which can have long-lasting effects. Cars involved in rear end shunts sometimes sustain significant damage, which can result in insurance write-offs or raised premiums for those involved.
There are a number of different factors that combine to determine the result of a rear-end collision. Speed is one of the most important, but it is also important to take into account the heights of the vehicles involved, their ages, the way they are constructed and the angle of the impact.
In order to understand the response of vehicles to a collision, it is necessary to first understand the generic response of different materials and bumper constructions to the application of loads.
We have carried out our own low-velocity crash testing with a variety of different makes of cars to determine/assess how different bumper constructions behave during low-velocity contacts and, using crash dummies and load cells/accelerometers, how this affects the peak accelerations and coefficient of restitutions for different scenarios. This testing is an on-going research project.
We are also conducting testing into the magnitude of forces associated with ordinary motoring scenarios such as driving over speed humps, up and down kerbs to see how they compare to the forces involved in some low-velocity rear-end collisions where unusual occupant movement is claimed.
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If you need forensic assistance with your rear-end collision, then contact Elliott Forensics today to get the help you need.