Time & Distance Analysis

"Time is the longest distance between two places."

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Tennessee Williams

Time and distance are key components of a crash reconstruction. As an example, Car A is turning left at an intersection on a yellow flashing arrow (unprotected turn). Car B is approaching from the opposite direction with intent to go straight through on a green light. They collide. A typical crash report will likely place fault on the driver of Car A because Car B had the right-of-way. But what if the driver of Car B was speeding? Changing the scenario often changes the outcome and can change who is at fault. 

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A time and distance analysis starts with the known variables (speed, acceleration, time, etc.) and re-works the collision to account for that changing variable. If it is determined that the turning driver had reasonable time to turn, given the distance the approaching vehicle was from the intersection, and the collision wouldn't have occurred had the approaching driver not been speeding, fault would now shift to the speeding driver. If it is reasonable for the driver to turn and they would have easily made it had the other car not been speeding, you can't fault them for turning.

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This type of analysis allows us to change a given variable and make a determination as to whether the collision would still happen. It answers the "What if?" questions.