A case study for evidence dialectic and reconstruction of freeway traffic crashes

Abstract

Eight road traffic accident (RTA) reconstructionists were called in to perform dialectics on evidences from four freeway fatal crashes selected. These reconstrutionists, who are currently highway police, were divided into two groups. The qualitative research process includes file review, inference hypothesis, statement making, group discussion, and repeated dialectics on reconstruction. This study aims to explore the relative dimensions of admissibility of evidences and inference process. The results reveal the importance of rules established by expertise experience, the necessity of assuming truth for oral evidence, and the capability of producing various dynamic scenarios during dialectics, leading to a more explanatory method for vehicle crash reconstruction, and explaining the possible fallacies and conflicts. It also provides a different direction to think over RTA reconstruction in the future.

 

Keywords

road traffic accident, dialectics, accident reconstruction, admissibility of evidences, freeway

 

Citation information

Woo T. hugh, Wu Chun Liang, Huang Ching Hsien, A case study for evidence dialectic and reconstruction of freeway traffic crashes, Police Science Quarterly, 43(2012), 1-21(in Chinese)

 

Authors’ information

Corresponding author at: National Chiao Tung University,1001 University Road, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan

E-mail addresses: thwoo@g2.nctu.edu.tw (TH Woo), summerhill.org@gmail.com (CL Wu), simon095@hpb.gov.tw (CH Huang)

Tel: +886 3 5731998