Reconstruction applies physics and engineering to establish speeds, positions, timing, braking, and impact sequence. Inputs include scene measurements, tire and gouge marks, crush profiles, vehicle weights and load distribution, ECM and telematics data, and video.
Heavy vehicle reconstruction differs from passenger car analysis because of mass, braking distance, trailer dynamics, and load shift considerations.
Alternative Names:
Commercial Vehicle Reconstruction, Heavy Truck Reconstruction
Why it Matters?
Reconstruction is where liability is usually won or lost in a serious trucking case, and its persuasiveness now depends heavily on consistency with recorded data. An expert whose speed calculation conflicts with ECM output faces a difficult cross-examination and a plausible Daubert challenge, which is why early data preservation and reconstruction work should proceed together rather than sequentially.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What data does a reconstructionist need?
How does electronic data affect reconstruction?
