Methods of Accident Reconstruction: Biomechanical and Human Factors Considerations

Accident reconstruction involving consumer products and industrial equipment often requires biomechanical and/or human factors analyses to help determine the root cause of an accident scenario. A systematic method has been established which incorporates numerous components of the sciences of biomechanics and human factors and uses the scientific method as the framework for evaluating competing theories. Using this method, available data are gathered pertaining to the accident or incident and organized in a modified Haddon matrix, with categories for Man [person(s) involved in the accident], Product/Machine, and Environment. Information about the person(s) is separated further into injury and human factors components. The injuries are viewed as physical evidence, where each injury occurred as a result of being exposed to a specific combination of energy, force, motion/deflection, acceleration, etc. The injuries are evaluated with known injury research and categorized with a specific type, location, mechanism, and injury threshold. This injury evidence is then reconciled with the other physical evidence developed from the accident environment and product/machine categories. Human factors evaluations of body size, posture, capabilities, sensory perception, reaction time, and movements create similar information that is also reconciled with the rest of the evidence from an accidental circumstance. At the core of this method is developing scientific data or information that can be used to support or refute accident reconstruction conclusions. An accurate and complete accident reconstruction using the available data must be consistent with the laws of physics, and the physics of interaction between the man, product/machine, and environment.Copyright © 2015 by ASME