CASE STUDY 3

Three Vehicle  Rear-End Collision:  Who Hit Whom?

What the claimant alleged

The claimant, in Vehicle 1, stated that they had stopped on an expressway due to traffic stopped ahead.  They said that at that point, they were rear-ended by the insured in Vehicle 2.  The insured claimed that they were also struck from behind and forced into Vehicle 1.  The insured vehicle was equipped with an EDR, which captured two events critical to the case.

Important to note that both events were on same ignition cycle indicating they are from same crash

First Event as determined by “Trigger Counts”  Longitudinal Axis   Delta-V Change

The first event indicated a positive Delta-V, or a gain in momentum, The only way a vehicle can gain momentum or increase in MPH in a crash is to be struck from behind.  The second event showed a negative Delta-V, or a reduction in momentum.  This was due to the insured striking the claimants vehicle in the rear, causing the insured’s vehicle to have a reduction in momentum or MPH.  Furthermore, the time between the increase and subsequent decrease in momentum established that the insured’s vehicle was at least 10 feet behind the claimants, vehicle when it was struck in the rear by the third vehicle, which then pushed it into the claimant’s vehicle.

Results

Second Event as determined by “Trigger Counts”  Longitudinal Axis   Delta-V Change

Time Between Events

Coastal Crash Consultants  -  1001 Brickell Bay Drive Suite 2700  —  Miami, FL. 33131  —  305-915-8480