Case Studies
J.S. Held’s client’s insured driver reported to their insurance company that they parked their vehicle on the road for several days and noticed damage down the driver’s side when they returned, extending from the front bumper to the rear quarter panel. The vehicle was a total loss due to the damage. The adjusters working on the file were suspicious of the claim due to inconsistencies between the statements to insurance and police, other pre-existing damage on the vehicle, and the abnormal nature of the damage.
J.S. Held’s Accident Reconstruction practice was engaged to investigate the claim and provide an opinion regarding the nature of the damage to the vehicle. We imaged all error codes on the vehicle, imaged data from the airbag control module, photographed the damage, and collected paint samples. Stored error codes indicated pre-existing issues with the vehicle. Additionally, the airbag data and paint samples proved that the vehicle was being driven at the time the damage occurred, and the vehicle contacted a stationary object. With this information, our client was able to deny the insurance claim, saving their business the cost of a total loss claim. Additionally, the claim denial on the driver’s insurance history will be accounted for in their future insurance premiums.
Liam Rodgers, BASc, MASc, EIT
Professional Engineer
Accident Reconstruction Practice
+1 825 360 0779
[email protected]
> Accident Reconstruction
J.S. Held’s accident reconstruction experts deliver specialized expertise in forensic investigations, evidence collection and preservation, and scientific diagrams and animations. Our team of consultants, engineers, and PhD scientists is retained by first-party and third-party clients to provide expert witness and litigation support, from discovery to decision.
> Visualization & Reconstruction Services
J.S. Held’s forensic visualization experts specialize in the production of animations, graphics, interactive media, and virtual reality environments that communicate complex concepts in a simple form. Our visualization experts employ photogrammetry, nighttime visibility studies, video reenactments, photo analysis, video analysis, computer modeling, and simulation to analyze core issues of a case. These findings and results are represented though graphics, animations, physical models, interactive exhibits, and 3D visualizations to clearly and concisely explain our conclusions.