Auto Collision Involving Highway Design Flaws
Photos of the completed 1:18 scale model created to reconstruct and animate the accident using stop motion animation. The final court aids included annotated police photographs with drawings and annotations like the ones above.
Finished stop motion animation using the 1:18 scale model I built to aid the expert’s testimony in court. A 1:18 model of the specific car involved in the accident was not available, so I sculpted the necessary details to reflect the design of the actual car and to ensure that important design details, such as a larger front and back bumper were accurate.
Road damage based on historical google satellite images and NYSDOT images of the site found during my research. This discovery is particularly important because the uneven roadway contributed to the driver losing control of the car.
SUMMARY OF CASE (ONGOING, WORK IN PROGRESS)
Complex Accident Reconstruction Involving Highway Design and Construction:
Plaintiff’s side. On the Sprain Brook Parkway, a 4-door sedan lost control due to a combination of snow melt and black ice. The car collided with a w-beam guide rail, which was improperly installed too close to a light pole. This prevented the guide rail from deflecting properly, causing the car to ramp up onto the rail on its passenger side. The car then hit a sign structure pole, splitting into two pieces at the firewall. One occupant was ejected from the vehicle and three fatalities occurred as a result of this collision.
PURPOSE OF COURT AIDS
To assist forensic expert in reconstructing the accident. The road was completely changed after the accident, so everything had to be reconstructed based on photographs, building plans and permits, MUTCD standard sheets, and historical google map images and from state records. This case is unusual on many levels and was nearly impossible to work out definitively without a model.
To help forensic expert prove driver’s speed was not excessive.
To show why the accident happened to the jury in a clear visual way.
To explain and demonstrate proximate causation of the crash: improper plowing and pavement maintenance. To demonstrate the consequences of improper height and placement of w-beam median barrier, to determine how the passenger was ejected, and show why and how barrier sheared and how and why vehicle spot welds failed.
MATERIALS CREATED FOR CASE
I created numerous exhibits including annotated photographs, a 1:18 scale model of the entire section of road, median, guide rail, light pole and sign structure pole, and a 1:18 scale model car. I then created a stop motion animation of the accident to show and explain how the accident happened. The highway was completely changed after the accident, so the model was constructed as closely as possible to the conditions at the time of the accident using police photographs, NYS photologs, design plans, MUTCD standard sheets, and historical google images. I also built and photographed full scale models of the light pole base, guide rail post and w-beam rail. The exhibits and model were used to achieve a significant settlement for the clients.
OUTCOME
Settled in Plaintiff’s favor.
Electrocution Reconstruction
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Fig. 1: Reconstruction showing how construction worker was most likely standing when he was electrocuted based on impressions in soil.
Fig. 2: Reconstruction showing how construction worker fell. The muscles in his legs contracted sharply causing his legs to bend suddenly and violently. This sharp, unnatural movement led to his stressed and irregular final resting position.
Fig. 3: Reconstruction showing construction worker’s final resting position based on burns on the ground and a separate police photograph that showed the body in a foreshortened perspective.
CASE SUMMARY
Plaintiff’s side. Electrocution Accident on NYS Route 4 roundabout construction site. Daytime. Construction worker fatally electrocuted when overhead power line touched roadwork lighting mast. The body was removed before the police could finish taking photographs and crucial information was missing to determine how and where the claimant was electrocuted. Locating the position of the body was critical to reconstruct the accident.
PURPOSE OF COURT AIDS
To help visually reconstruct the accident. The body was removed before the police could finish taking photographs and crucial information was missing to determine how the worker was electrocuted.
MATERIALS CREATED FOR CASE
I reenacted how the worker’s body most likely seized and fell during the electrical surge on video to create a reference so I could draw the “keyframes” of his fall. I then superimposed the drawings onto the police photographs to show the plaintiff’s final resting position, which was critical to reconstructing the accident. The exhibits were used to win the client’s estate a significant settlement.
OUTCOME
Settled in Plaintiff’s favor.
Fall Involving Pothole
CASE SUMMARY
Plaintiff’s side. Fall down accident caused by improper road restoration. Plaintiff sustained serious injuries after her leg went into a pothole while crossing the street.
PURPOSE OF COURT AIDS
To demonstrate and explain where specific NYCDOT code violations occurred when the road was patched and how the violations caused the pothole to form. Used alongside expert testimony to visually explain his findings to the jury.
MATERIALS CREATED FOR CASE
I created a series of exhibits using photos of the pothole and standard specification sheets to demonstrate and explain where specific NYC DOT code violations occurred when the road was patched and how the violations caused the pothole to form. Used alongside expert testimony to visually explain his findings to the jury. $4 million judgment granted to plaintiff.
OUTCOME
$4 million judgement granted to plaintiff.
Slip and Fall Involving Ice
CASE SUMMARY
Plaintiff’s side. Fall down accident involving building code violations and ice melt from roof dripping down onto public ramp and sidewalk.
PURPOSE OF COURT AIDS
To show where specific building code violations were present on the building and how the violations contributed to victim’s injuries.
MATERIALS CREATED FOR CASE
To keep costs to a minimum and for maximum defense of exhibit in court, drawings were used rather than a field survey and measurements. I made a digital drawing of the building based on photographs taken at the scene and labeled where and why the ice patch developed. The drawings were used as evidence and presented by the expert to help explain how and why the fall happened.
OUTCOME
Settled in Plaintiff’s favor.
Proposed Site Plan
PROJECT SUMMARY
Proposed Site Plan for a grocery store and mixed retail strip mall with parking.
PURPOSE OF SITE PLAN
Design meant to maximize building square footage while also providing ample parking. Proposed site plan created to show to possible investors/purchasers of the property.