Using Computer Animations in Trial

I’m David Holub, an attorney focusing on personal injury law in northwest Indiana.

Welcome to Personal Injury Primer, where we break down the law into simple terms, provide legal tips, and discuss personal injury law topics.

In past episodes, we have discussed accident reconstructionists.

If you have watched home remodeling shows you have likely seen how they will use a computer-connected camera to scan a room.

They are taking laser precise measurements during this scan.

Once they have a scan of the room they will show computer simulations of how the room might look with different cupboards and fixtures.

The simulation or animation allows everyone to quickly visualize the room with different looks.

Accident reconstruction experts use similar technology.

They will scan a crash scene, scan in photos from the scene, grab data from Google Earth imagery, and reconstruct a crash scene. They can also use lasers to measure vehicle crush against the actual vehicles involved in the crash.

Once they have the scene and vehicle information, they can simulate different scenarios based on assumptions of vehicle size and weight, speed at impact, weather conditions, and the like.

The experts can use their 3D models of the scene and vehicles to illustrate their testimony in court.

An animation of this sort can be very powerful and instrumental in explaining to a jury what happened at the moment of impact.

The animation visually depicts what happened, and even can include several different views and slow-motion segments.

Animations are what is called demonstrative evidence. The animation visuals demonstrate the reconstruction expert’s opinion.

It can take much work to create an accurate animation, but it takes less than 5 minutes to display the animation to the jury.

I hope you found this information helpful. If you are a victim of someone’s carelessness, substandard medical care, product defect, work injury, or another personal injury, please call (219) 736-9700 with your questions. You can also learn more about us by visiting our website at DavidHolubLaw.com – while there, make sure you request a copy of our book “Fighting for Truth.”

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