Accident Reconstruction

Accident Reconstruction Services

JZ Engineering provides accident reconstruction services for passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, motorcycles, and heavy equipment-related incidents.

Analysis integrates physical evidence, vehicle data, video, scene documentation, and engineering principles to help attorneys, insurers, investigators, and Special Investigation Units understand what happened and what the evidence supports.

Capabilities

Accident Reconstruction Capabilities

Depending on the case, the reconstruction may involve vehicle data extraction, video analysis, scene documentation, damage analysis, and evaluation of driver response.

Data Collection

  • Crash site inspection documentation, including drone aerial photos
  • Vehicle mechanical and damage evaluations
  • LiDAR 3D scans
  • Commercial heavy truck mechanical inspections
  • Passenger vehicle Event Data Recorder (EDR) data retrieval
  • Heavy truck Engine Control Module (ECM) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) data retrieval

Reconstruction

  • Momentum and crush energy analyses
  • Measurements from photogrammetry
  • Video analysis
  • EDR, ECM, and ABS data analysis
  • Driver response evaluation
Table showing Event Data Recorder (EDR) data, including speed, engine RPM, and brake status, used for forensic vehicle analysis
Graph showing Delta V longitudinal deceleration data in milliseconds, representing a forensic analysis of vehicle impact speed

Vehicle Data

EDR, ECM, and ABS Data Analysis

Vehicle data can provide critical insights into speed, braking, throttle, steering, seat belt use, and other vehicle activity immediately prior to a collision.

JZ Engineering provides Event Data Recorder imaging and analysis, along with commercial vehicle ECM and ABS data imaging. This data is rigorously analyzed alongside scene evidence, vehicle damage, and video to develop a comprehensive reconstruction.

Rapid Response

Timely Scene Documentation and Evidence Collection

When a crash occurs, time is critical. Scene evidence degrades, vehicles are moved, and video can be quickly overwritten or lost entirely.

JZ Engineering assists with rapid response crash investigations, executing scene documentation, aerial drone mapping, confirmation of involved vehicles, initial inspections, and EDR downloads.

Preserving surveillance video in its native format is crucial, especially when video timing, vehicle position, or driver response are central to the case.

Tow truck at an accident scene documenting vehicle positioning for forensic reconstruction and mechanical factor analysis

Special Issues

Mechanical Factors, ADAS, and Driver Response

Complex investigations often require both accident reconstruction and mechanical engineering analysis. JZ Engineering evaluates vehicle data, mechanical condition, and driver response when these issues overlap.

An infographic illustrating Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features on a vehicle, including Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, with sensors and cameras represented around the car.

Mechanical Factors

When mechanical failure is claimed as a contributing factor, analysis includes vehicle inspection, service record review, damage analysis, and evaluating pre-impact versus impact-related conditions.

ADAS and Vehicle Systems

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) require evaluation of both the driver’s response and the behavior of the semi-autonomous vehicle systems prior to the crash.

Limited Evidence

When evidence is incomplete, photogrammetry, crush analysis, damage photos, and scene records can still help evaluate impact speed, crash sequence, and vehicle movement.

Related Services

Related Forensic Engineering Services

Accident reconstruction often overlaps with mechanical failure analysis, product liability, vehicle systems, and fire investigation. JZ Engineering can evaluate related technical issues when they are part of the same matter.

Close-up of a heavily damaged mechanical component showing significant material wear, used for forensic analysis of a claimed equipment malfunction.

Mechanical Failure Analysis

Evaluation of mechanical systems, components, service issues, maintenance factors, and possible defects connected to an accident or claim.

Mechanical Failure Analysis
A charred, heavily damaged tractor-trailer unit remains at a scene, surrounded by yellow hazard tape, indicating the site of a vehicle fire investigation.

Vehicle & Equipment Fire Investigation

Origin and cause investigation for vehicle and heavy equipment fires, including electrical, fuel, hydraulic, and recall-related issues.

Fire Investigation Services

Need an Accident Reconstruction Expert?

JZ Engineering is available for crash reconstruction, vehicle data review, video analysis, inspections, and time-sensitive evidence evaluation.

Based in Minnesota. Serving clients throughout the Midwest and nationwide.

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