Case Studies
Our team was informed of a collision between an SUV and a car which occurred at a T-shaped intersection in Ottawa, Ontario. The SUV had been travelling straight through the intersection and had the right of way. The car, meanwhile, approached the intersection via a perpendicular road, failed to stop at a stop sign, and, as a result, collided with the right side of the SUV. The insurance adjusters suspected that the insureds were not being truthful in their insurance claim.
Our team examined both the SUV and car, imaging the restraint control modules (RCMs; i.e., black boxes) and downloading the infotainment module from the car. We were able to advise the insurance adjusters that the insureds were, in fact, materially misrepresenting the collision. The collective evidence showed that the SUV was stationary at impact and that the car accelerated and collided with the SUV twice. Further, the data in the infotainment module of the car showed the collisions occurred one kilometer away from the reported intersection, in a field beside a house. Further, the data in the infotainment module revealed that the SUV had been driven and parked in a parking lot across the street from the home address of the car’s insureds, which was suspicious given that the insureds stated they did not know each other. Ultimately, we were able to show the insurance providers that the collision was fraudulent in nature with the insureds both misrepresenting the facts of loss. This helped lead the insurance providers to deny the claims.
Karla Cassidy, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Senior Engineer
Accident Reconstruction
+1 647 558 3861
[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. Clients, jurors, mediators, and judges can benefit from the clarity of concise, targeted, scientific-based visual products created by our team. We use industry-leading equipment and proven techniques that have been accepted and adopted by the accident reconstruction and visualization communities over the last two decades.