File 2004.01: Carden v. JLJ Trucking

Case Type: Vehicle Passing Accident

Description:
A case in which a semi-truck driver signaled and began to make a lane change on an interstate highway. A vehicle in a following position was passing others at a high rate of speed in excess of the legal MPH limit and attempted to pass the truck during its lane change. The vehicle subsequently ran off the road and collided with a bridge pillar.

Phase 1, Pre-Visualization and Data Collection
Fearless Eye received vehicle velocity and vector information from counsel that was validated by witnesses and was input into the computer. Accurate 3D models of the semi-truck and the automobile in question were produced.

Phase 2, Visualizations Produced:
Two separate 3D animations were produced illustrating different scenarios. Animation 1 was approximate to the speed the vehicles traveled in the actual crash as reported by witnesses. Animation 2 illustrated probable vehicle dynamics if the speeding vehicle had been observing the speed limit. Results of Animation 2 indicated that the accident could have been avoided.