Autotechnical examination in case of an accident. Independent autotechnical expertise

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Autotechnical expertise - a study that uses special knowledge in the field of forensic autotechnical and forensic tools to establish the facts about an accident. Knowledge relates to mechanics, mathematics, technical data, road safety and the like.

The study is being conducted as part of criminal proceedings in the investigation of crimes related to traffic safety, as well as civil cases for compensation for material damage due to an accident.

Research objects

In this case, the role of the direct object belongs to the accident, explanations of eyewitnesses and participants, and other evidence. They are also obtained by inspecting the scene.

An independent auto-technical examination is carried out in non-state and state institutions. At the same time, the inspection protocol, the scheme for it, other related documents,photographs of the situation and damage to cars.

Types of auto technical expertise

The following types of forensic research are distinguished:

• transport-trasological examination and analysis of traces on the vehicle and the scene of an accident;
• determination of the technical condition of the vehicle and the circumstances of the accident;
• analysis of road conditions, technical condition of the road and conditions at the scene.

In addition, sometimes a complex psychological transport study is required, where the condition of the driver himself at the time of the accident is examined. Let's consider how the auto-technical examination of each of these types is carried out separately.

Transport-trasological expertise

The purpose of this type of research is to establish the mechanism of the accident or its traces. The latter includes traces of the vehicle related to the accident. The objects of examination are traces of wheels, skids, caterpillars, slow moving parts. Wheels vary by type, model, brand, mechanism and circumstances of formation. Important information is obtained by examining the track width, tire, tread left, etc.

Items include traces of a non-running part of the vehicle, that is, coupling devices, bumpers, etc.

If autotechnical expertise is necessary to identify the vehicle, then the following questions are posed to the specialist.

1. Are there any traces of the vehicle at the scene of the accident?
2. Does the part or its fragment belong to this vehicle?
3. Are traces formed by this vehicle?

Also,diagnostic tasks are set regarding the mechanism of an accident, individual stages in which traces are left, and so on. Questions in this case may relate to the following points:

• vehicle driving mode and collision angle;
• mutual location in a collision;
• location of vehicles and pedestrians upon collision;
• trace overlay sequences;
• establishing the fact that the footprints were formed as a result of a collision;
• other matters.

Research of the technical condition of the vehicle

This type of examination is necessary to identify faults, their causes and the manifestation of defects. It is carried out to establish the circumstances of the accident and other cases. For example, an auto technical expertise will be required in case of disputes about the sale of a vehicle with hidden defects or malfunctions, or poor-quality repairs and maintenance at a service center. Then the specialist will have to answer questions regarding:

• general technical condition of the vehicle and its individual systems and parts;
• TS serviceability;
• compliance of its technical condition with the requirements for admission to operation;
• the presence of shortcomings and, in case of a positive answer, clarification of which ones;
• the reason and time of their appearance;
• nature of the fault (operational, structural or production);
• nature of the defect (significant or not);
• distribution or non-distribution for warranty defects;
• appearance opportunitiesdefect again after elimination.

Investigation of the circumstances of the accident

Autotechnical forensic examination of this type is associated with transport and trace analysis, as it has one goal: to clarify the circumstances of the incident. However, the considered type is aimed at restoring the picture of the accident as a whole, and the transport and trace study solves a narrower range of tasks.

An expert is asked about:

• Vehicle speed before collision;
• stopping and braking distances;
• time at which the car covered a specific distance;
• possibility of stopping the car in specific circumstances;
• causes of rollover or skidding;
• opportunities to prevent accidents;
• the relative position of the vehicle at a certain moment, including before the collision.

Sometimes autotechnical forensic examination also includes issues that are not always within the competence of specialists. Then the experts have the right not to answer them. The following are examples.

1. How should the driver behave in a particular situation in order to ensure traffic safety?
2. Did the driver act in accordance with the traffic rules?

These questions are within the competence of lawyers. Therefore, they should be answered by the appropriate specialists, not auto technical experts.

Research road conditions

Autotechnicalan examination, the questions of which relate to road conditions, is appointed if it is necessary to verify the testimony of road users in case they referred to objective reasons that led to the accident.

Also, the study is relevant in a number of cases of administrative offenses. If the involved person under Chapter 12 of the Code of Administrative Offenses refuses to admit the fact of his guilt (for example, referring to the absence of road signs or road markings), then these circumstances are checked. For this purpose, an autotechnical examination is appointed. Questions to the expert are then put as follows.

1. Could missing signs or inaccurate placement have caused the incident?
2. Are the signs installed in accordance with the requirements of the existing GOST?
3. Do speed bumps fit into the current GOST?
4. Were there traffic management reasons that contributed to the crash?
5. Was it technically possible to avoid the accident?

The task may be to determine the moment of possibility of preventing an accident if the driver slowed down in time.

Vehicle Appraisal Study

If an autotechnical examination is assigned when evaluating a vehicle, the following questions are posed on it.

1. What technologies should be used to repair vehicles?
2. How much will it cost to repair a vehicle?
3. How much does a vehicle cost in a specific condition, the specified year of manufacture, taking into account wear and tear and features of the configuration, andalso the accessories installed in the machine?
4. How much are usable vehicle balances worth?
5. How much is the loss of value of the affected vehicle?

Comprehensive psychological autotechnical expertise

The definition of this type implies the involvement of experts who can assess the "human factor" in an accident, that is, who have special knowledge in the field of psychology and psychophysiology. In this case, when an independent auto-technical examination of a car is carried out, the driver's reaction to a particular situation on the road is evaluated, when it was necessary to make a decision. The experience of driving the vehicle, the condition of the person, temperament and other circumstances that must be investigated are taken into account.

This is definitely important. Therefore, when an autotechnical examination is appointed in case of an accident, it is advisable to require this type of study. It is especially necessary when there are casu alties as a result of the incident. The specialist may be asked questions regarding:

• reaction time of a person driving to the appearance of interference in a particular situation;
• conflict situation between the driver and other participants in the accident, which affected the mental state;
• effects of this state on the performance of driving functions;
• compliance of his psycho-physiological capabilities with the requirements that are necessary to ensure safe driving;
• opportunities for timely correct perceptionthe driver of the situation on the road;
• opportunities to prevent accidents given the psychophysiological state of the driver.

Conclusion

Due to the huge number of accidents on the roads, an auto technical examination in an accident is one of the most common types of investigations assigned to establish the facts of a case. Unfortunately, some of the accidents have serious consequences. Therefore, the exact evidence base in case of incidents is so important. Often in cases of this type, the main sources of the version of the investigation are the results provided by the autotechnical expertise. The cost in the capital for this type of service starts, on average, from 20,000-25,000 rubles. But the injured party has the right to recover this amount in the future from the perpetrator of the incident.