Accident Reconstruction
Seatbelt Investigations
In Canada, there is often an opportunity for insurance companies to
subrogate the total amount of
a loss in cases where the injured party was not wearing a seatbelt and
the seatbelt would have
reduced the extent of injury. Reductions range from 25-75% of the total
claim. Because of the
substantial claim amounts that can be involved, insurance adjusters and
lawyers - both defendant
and plaintiff - often need to determine whether the occupants of the
vehicle were wearing their
seatbelts at the time of the collision.
Given adequate information, our engineers are able to analyze collision forces, determine the effect of these forces on vehicle occupants, and assess the effectiveness of seatbelt use, both lap and shoulder, in the particular collision circumstances. By examining the vehicle's seatbelts, and the geometry and post-impact condition of the occupant compartment, we are also able to determine whether the occupants involved in a collision were wearing their seatbelts.
If a more detailed understanding of the injury potential of the collision is required, our biomedical engineering department may be able to perform a detailed kinematic analysis of the collision.
