Motorcycle Accident Reconstruction And Litigation

This book details the mechanics of riding a motorcycle and motorcycle performance. Rider safety considerations and human factors issues such as conspicuity, evasive action, warning to the rider, and rider experience and training are discussed in detail. Quasi-motorcycles are compared and contrasted with standard motorcycles to acquaint the reader with their similarities and differences. Techniques and methods for reconstructing motorcycle accidents are covered in detail and a wide variety of example cases are given. Legal issues of motorcycle use are explained with extensive case studies and examples and include topics such as helmet laws, negligence, laws governing accidents, warnings, roadway defects, motorcycle defects, injury to passengers, and Dram Shop liability in DUI cases. This edition includes accident cause factors and identification of countermeasures, commonly known asThe Hurt Report, on CD-ROM.

Accident reconstruction utilizes principles of physics and empirical data to analyze the physical, electronic, video, audio, and testimonial evidence from a crash, to determine how and why the crash occurred, how the crash could have been avoided, or to determine whose description of the crash is most accurate. This process draws together aspects of mathematics, physics, engineering, materials science, human factors, and psychology, and combines analytical models with empirical test data. Different types of crashes produce different types of evidence and call for different analysis methods. Still, the basic philosophical approach of the reconstructionist is the same from crash type to crash type, as are the physical principles that are brought to bear on the analysis. This book covers a basic approach to accident reconstruction, including the underlying physical principles that are used, then details how this approach and the principles are applied when reconstructing motorcycle crashes. This second edition of Motorcycle Accident Reconstruction presents a thorough, systematic, and scientific overview of the available methods for reconstructing motorcycle crashes. This new edition contains: Additional theoretical models, examples, case studies, and test data. An updated bibliography incorporating the newest studies in the field. Expanded coverage of the braking capabilities of motorcyclists. Updated, refined, and expanded discussion of the decelerations of motorcycles sliding on the ground. A thoroughly rewritten and expanded discussion of motorcycle impacts with passenger vehicles. Updated coefficients of restitution for collisions between motorcycles and cars. A new and expanded discussion of using passenger car EDR data in motorcycle accident reconstruction. A new section covering recently published research on post-collision frozen speedometer readings on motorcycles. A new section on motorcycle interactions with potholes, roadway deterioration, and debris and expanded coverage of motorcycle falls. This second edition of Motorcycle Accident Reconstruction is a must-have title for accident reconstructionists, forensic engineers, and all interested in understanding why and how motorcycle crashes occur.

Featuring contributions from industry leaders in their respective fields, this volume presents comprehensive, authoritative coverage of all the major issues involved in road vehicle dynamic behavior. It begins with a short history of road and off-road vehicle dynamics followed by thorough, detailed state-of-the-art chapters on modeling, analysis and optimization in vehicle system dynamics, vehicle concepts and aerodynamics, pneumatic tires and contact wheel-road/off-road, modeling vehicle subsystems, vehicle dynamics and active safety, man-vehicle interaction, intelligent vehicle systems, and road accident reconstruction and passive safety.

This book provides a unique roadmap for the motorcycle accident reconstructionist user. It is written by two specialists in this field who provide analyses of physical factors that affect motorcycle visibility, motorcycle usage at night, and human factors in motorcycle crashes - to the greater understanding of crash analysts, consultants and safety engineers alike.