Accident Reconstruction Drawing Tips from SmartDraw Legal

SmartDraw Legal is the easy drawing software that helps you create perfect accident reconstruction diagrams. Using pre-built templates and symbols you can create presentation-quality reconstruction diagrams in just minutes, using only a few simple mouse clicks.

Choose a SmartTemplate
When SmartDraw Legal opens, you will see a template category called "Accident Reconstructions." When you click on the category name, the pre-designed templates you can choose from will be shown on the right. Select the one that best suits your needs and click.

Edit the Template
The template you have chosen appears in your program screen. To the left of the screen you will see a SmartPanel with convenient command short cuts and a library of symbols that you simply stamp onto the template and position as necessary.

Scale.
Templates are set to scale automatically, and symbols that you drop on the page are also automatically scaled.

Adding Vehicles & Signs.
A library of pre-drawn cars, trucks, emergency vehicles and traffic signs are available through the More Symbols dialog. Click on the More... button in the Add Shapes Library Selector menu in the SmartPanel. This will open a window where you can browse the SmartDraw library tree or search for additional symbols using keywords.

Adding Roads.
Click on any symbol in the Roads & Intersections Library Gallery under the SmartPanel and stamp a roadway onto your template. Resize it as needed. Many of the most common intersections are contained in the templates, so it may not even be necessary to add road or intersection symbols.

Positioning.
Moving symbols such vehicles or signs in order to get them in the right position on the diagram is easy. Just click on your object and use the Rotation Handle or click on Rotate menu in the Shape Layout group under the Design tab.

Adding Text.
Click the Add Text button in your SmartPanel and place your cursor in the place where you would like to begin typing text. The Font group under the Home tab includes commands to control the font, color, size and styles of your text.