Help me out please - Car accident analysis

In summary, the collision between cars 1 and 2 resulted in damage to both cars. The force of the impact is unknown, as force is not a consideration in collisions.
  • #1
Rob86
1
0
Help me out please -- Car accident analysis

hey guys, I have a question... If car 1 weighing in at 4400lbs is traveling at 0 degree heading at 55 MPH and is impacted on the right side by car 2 weighing in at 2700 lbs from a 90 degree heading traveling at 5 mph and the departure angle of car 1 is 45 degrees, and the time variable is 1 second. what was the force of the impact?

This is not a homework question, this is my car and I would like to know the force from the impact.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151820048022474&l=3048728d64
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151820047657474&l=952d90083f

let me know if you need any more data. Thanks
 
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  • #2
Questions of this sort.are very common on PF. But the "force of the impact" is not knowable. Force is not a consideration in such matters. To put a good legal case, you need the authority of an accepted legal expert, I'm afraid, using the appropriate terminology and academic qualifications. Any Physics you may read here can be as accurate as you like but it will cut no ice in court.
 
  • #3
5mph? Given the severity of the damage to the door of the Z (which I'm assuming is car 1 in this question), it looks like the second car was going a lot more than 5mph. As sophiecentaur said though, we can't say anything conclusive or legally useful here - we can speculate, but there's not enough information to say much, and anything we can say would almost definitely not be admissible in court.
 
  • #4
I'm not sure there's a meaningful answer to the question. As far as I know, forces involved in collisions tend to vary quite wildly during the collision process. The force starts off very small then grows to be huge as compression of the material happens and then drops off to zero, all in the span of a few ms. This is one of the reasons that collisions are often analyzed in terms of momentum conservation rather than a direct application of Newton's 2nd Law.

Chris.
 
  • #5
I guess a good photograph of the damage could appeal to a judge's common sense if you are trying to discredit your opponent's estimation of speed. Does your car insurance cover legal representation?
 

1. What is the purpose of a car accident analysis?

A car accident analysis is conducted to determine the factors that contributed to the accident and to help prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future. It involves examining various elements such as road conditions, weather, vehicle design, driver behavior, and more.

2. Who typically conducts a car accident analysis?

Car accident analyses are typically conducted by trained professionals such as accident reconstruction specialists, engineers, and safety experts. They use scientific methods and tools to collect and analyze data in order to understand the causes and consequences of the accident.

3. What data is needed for a car accident analysis?

The data needed for a car accident analysis varies depending on the specific case, but generally includes information such as police reports, witness statements, vehicle damage, road conditions, and weather conditions. In some cases, data from the vehicle's black box or dash cam footage may also be used.

4. How does a car accident analysis help improve road safety?

By identifying the factors that contributed to a car accident, a car accident analysis can help inform improvements to road design, vehicle safety features, and driver education and training. This information can also be used by policymakers to implement laws and regulations that promote safer driving practices.

5. Is a car accident analysis admissible in court?

Yes, a car accident analysis can be used as evidence in a court of law. However, it is important to note that the admissibility and weight of the analysis will depend on the qualifications and credibility of the expert conducting the analysis, as well as the methodology and data used.

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