When it comes to diagramming a crash scene, there are several methods to complete the task. Forensic mapping, (locating, positioning and documenting the evidence of a collision scene to scale) is essential to having the answers to the questions, “who, what, where, when and why.” Photographs do a great job of showing what the investigators saw post-collision, yet they lack scale and the ability to describe pre-collision movement. Having a computer-aided diagram (CAD) of the collision scene goes much further than pictures can; here is why.

Figure 1 Figure 1. (Photo: The Warren Group)

A scale diagram (Figure 1) gives the full overview of a collision scene from either a 2D or 3D point of view. Being able to see how things lined up, how they came together and how they parted helps explain the events within a crash. When a scene can be viewed from top down or any angle, that helps relay the facts. The investigator, judge or jury will get a visual idea of what was happening up to, at and after impact.

Figure 2 Figure 2. (Photo: The Warren Group)

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