Accident Analysis and Roadway Design
By Forensic Engineering Firm, McDowell Owens
Over the years, roadway design has clearly improved; however, deficiencies in design, construction, maintenance, signage and traffic control devices still contribute to motor vehicle accidents today.
Factors contributing to vehicle accidents
Factors such as banking or camber (the angle of the roadway), which is supposed to make it easier for drivers to manage curves, can contribute to an accident, if the banking is either insufficient or excessive.
Barriers and/or guardrails, which are designed to prevent vehicles from leaving a roadway or to prevent vehicles from crossing a median into oncoming traffic, can also contribute to an accident and/or the injuries sustained in an accident when insufficient design and/or foot post spacing is present. Additionally, faulty or improper guardrail end treatments can also contribute to an accident and lead to additional injury and possible death.
Road Signage and Traffic Control
Traffic control devices, signage and road markings, which are designed to make travel safer, can often lead to accidents when they are not properly timed, improperly placed or unclear in their intent. While designed to control the safe flow of traffic and inform drivers of approaching intersections, turns and other factors, improper traffic control devices can lead to an accident.
Visibility
Visibility is another factor that needs to be considered. If a driver does not have sufficient visibility of the roadway or approaching hazards, the reaction time of the driver may be significantly increased, which could result in a single- or multi-vehicle accident.
Accident Reconstructionist
McDowell Owens’ Engineers and Accident Reconstructionists analyze all applicable factors and the accident site to accurately determine the cause and the factors that led up to and/or contributed to the accident.
When you need to conduct an accident analysis or seek the services of an accident reconstructionist to determine who or what was at fault, contact McDowell Owens at
(281) 358-2876 or complete our contact form.