One decision has the ability to determine the result of your case: Whether or not you choose to combine visual aids with your accident reconstructionist testimony can be the determining factor for a favorable verdict.
Research has proven that on average, people get up to 90% of their knowledge from visual-sensory input, which is also the most memorable information long-term. When presenting expert testimony, keeping your audience alert and engaged is a key factor in the overall verdict.
Whether you are a defense or plaintiff civil attorney, if your case involves a collision or accident, the services of an accident reconstructionist may be incredibly beneficial to you. However, accident reconstructions usually involve complex analysis, technical jargon and other data points that may be difficult to follow for jurors and mediators alike.
Investing in traffic accident animations ensures that the testimony of your accident reconstructionist expert witness is accurately communicated to the jury, maximizing your chance of obtaining a successful verdict.
What does an Accident Reconstructionist Do?
An accident reconstructionist is a multidisciplinary expert in physics, engineering, law enforcement, accident investigation, or other related fields.
Accident reconstructionists use scientific methodology to determine the factors behind why and how a motor accident occurred. By evaluating data points such as vehicle damage, witness reports, and images from the crash site, accident reconstructionists provide specialized insight into the causes of an accident.
Forensic animation firms are then able to use the information provided by the accident reconstructionist to recreate the event with accuracy. This allows the jury and mediators to view the incident from a variety of perspectives. These visual aids provide engaging, accurate information that the jurors are more likely to empathetically connect with and remember.
For Plaintiff Attorneys, Visuals in Your Reconstructionist’s Testimony Explains Complex Facts
As the overall rates of car accidents, injuries, and roadway fatalities continue to increase, visual aids are more important than ever. Injured plaintiffs suing for damages rely on accident reconstructionists and forensic animations to accurately convey how their injuries were sustained.
Accident reconstructionists use their expertise to provide crucial evidence demonstrating the causal factors of an accident, which can then be recreated through animation.
Accident reconstructionists can determine critical factors of an incident such as:
- Speed
- Visibility
- Road conditions
- Vehicle defect
- Driver behavior and negligence
Once the accident reconstructionist finalizes their analysis, an accident reconstruction animation incorporating all key factors can be created. Providing visuals is especially important when a plaintiff’s case is centered around injuries.
Supplying the jury with a visual representation of the accident allows the jurors and mediators to understand exactly how an injury might have been sustained during a crash and who should be held liable. Verbal testimony can quickly become confusing for jurors without some type of visual aid to assist them in understanding the factors involved in an accident.
Animations can also provide a concrete example of what an accident would have looked like from a victim’s point of view, allowing the jury to empathize with the plaintiff. Showing the jury the plaintiff’s direct point of view helps to create an emotional connection that puts the accident’s reality into perspective. While an accident reconstructionist expert testimony can come across as dry and impersonal, animations invite the jurors to witness what it would have looked like to experience firsthand the moment a victim was injured.
For example, although at first glance this case seemed like a simple rear-end collision, the plaintiff sustained severe injuries to her spine which required several surgeries. Allowing the jury to see the full extent of the surgical procedures the victim needed after the incident put into perspective just how damaging this accident was to the plaintiff.
For Defense Attorneys, an Expert’s Testimonial Visual Can Add Compelling Credibility
Providing visual litigation aids to the jury increases their ability to understand and retain the information that is being shown more than if they were to simply hear an explanation from the accident reconstructionist. Visual aids have been proven to increase data retention which assists the jury in remembering key aspects of the case when deliberating.
The average juror today is familiar with technology and attuned to receiving important information visually as well as audibly. Considering these factors, accident reconstruction animations can lower or completely eliminate liability for the defense.
“At trial, you can (and should) illustrate the story with demonstrative exhibits and let it provide the structure and themes for all your communications with the jury, from voir dire to closing arguments. The story can (and should) guide your order of proof and how you present the evidence to the jury by letting your client’s story unfold through the testimony and evidence.”
— Lisa A. Reppeto, Litigation Attorney, American Bar Association
The testimony of an accident reconstructionist often contains many statistics, legal jargon, and lengthy descriptions. Although the testimony of an accident reconstructionist is vital, even the most attentive jurors will find it difficult to remember a list of details presented to them verbally. The solution to this is to pair expert testimony with a motor vehicle collision animation which allows the jury to see directly how each factor played into the origin of the incident.
Focusing on the tangible elements of a case as well as the narrative behind it allow the jurors to get a well-rounded overview of the incident. For example, in this defense case, the visual aid was crucial to providing the audience – jurors and mediators – with all elements that contributed to this accident. The highly realistic video gave the jury a visual narrative they could connect with and understand intuitively.
The visual factors such as the plaintiff’s dark tinted windows combined with the low light at the scene provide a clear image to the juror of how the accident took place. After the jury requested to be shown the video again during their deliberation, the case ultimately resulted in a favorable verdict for the defense.
How Visual Animations Enhance Your Accident Reconstructist’s Testimony
Demonstrative evidence, such as car crash animations and legal graphics, strengthen your expert testimony and the foundation of your case. The narrative of your client’s story can be easily communicated to your audience by combining factual evidence and modern technology.
The financial returns of investing in demonstrative evidence for any case involving an accident reconstructionist are undeniable.
Are you ready to captivate your audience?
Get a no-obligation and upfront-priced quote with our team of experienced accident animators to bring your case to life with scientifically accurate depictions. Our team’s vast experience with vehicle accident and medical procedure animations ensures that we have the ability to engage all involved in the success of your case.
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