Accident Reconstruction

Why Sketching a Car Accident is Important

Properly documenting a traffic accident with a good diagram is often the deciding factor in winning a claim in court or at an arbitration hearing. Most trial lawyers agree that a well-prepared accident reconstruction graphic will dramatically improve the odds of prevailing. Some attribute a 90% success rate to a properly documented diagram, as it allows the judge, jury, or arbitrator to clearly see and understand the facts visually.

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How to Draw an Accident Reconstruction Sketch

Start with an accident reconstruction template. We'll use SmartDraw to do this. This is much easier and more accurate than trying to draw the scene by hand. Plus, when you're finished, you'll have a presentation-quality graphic.

Begin by selecting an accident reconstruction template from the Police & Fire category under New Document.

Starting with the right template means you'll have the symbols and tools docked to the left of your workspace to do everything you need.

Create the Scene

SmartDraw includes hundreds of symbols for everything you need in your accident reconstruction: cars, trucks, and vehicles of all kinds; traffic signs and road markings, roadway objects, and more. Simply select the symbols you need from the SmartPanel, and drag and drop them onto your diagram.

Start by laying out your scene including the type of road, intersection, traffic lights, and lane markings. You can add what you need from the attached library.

You'll want to include only the information that is important to the case. Don't add extraneous items, as they will distract from the visual facts being presented.

Add Vehicles

Next, add the vehicles involved. Show their course of travel and denote the point of the collision. Be sure to label each vehicle.

The final step is to add a legend and a brief description of the accident.

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