A Primer on the Reconstruction and Presentation of Rollover Accidents

The reconstruction of a rollover accident is a complex and challenging problem. The analysis and reconstruction of these accidents requires one to investigate various phases of the accident. They include the pre-trip, trip and post-trip phases as well as the occupant kinematics. A good presentation of the reconstruction is essential and requires proper graphical aids, scale models and perhaps animation. It is the purpose of this paper to introduce reconstruction analysis techniques and presentation procedures that will address the various phases of a rollover accident and assist the analyst in his reconstruction and presentation.