Investigation of the Technical Defects Causing Motor Vehicle Accidents

Each year the technical defects found during inspection of passenger cars, two-wheeled and commercial vehicles after accidents are analyzed with regard to their accident-causing potential at DEKRA. Since each accident vehicle and usually each accident site is examined by an expert on traffic accidents, details on the causes of the accidents are collected in addition to general statistical data. This paper is a collective analysis describing which vehicle components and subassemblies are considered the causes of the accidents, what influence the vehicles' age had on the accidents and who is responsible for the defects (manufacturer, repair shop or driver).