Analysis of Low Speed Collisions

The Analysis of Low Speed Collisions course is designed to provide those involved in collision investigation, reconstruction, biomechanics, insurance claims with the tools to better evaluate and understand the "low speed" collision. The course will strengthen the understanding of this type of collision for those in related fields including health care providers and those in the legal professions.
From an analytical point-of-view, the course is intended to provide the practicing reconstructionist with the information to better understand the physics of the "low speed collision" and apply that information to a more reliable and complete analysis.
From the biomechanical perspective, the course is designed to offer the student (whether a reconstructionist or practicing biomechanist) a wide range of information on low speed collisions including how they effect people whether simply from an analysis of occupant motion or in terms of a more detailed analysis of injury or potential for injury. The course is not; however, designed to prepare one to qualify as a biomechanical expert.
This 40 hour course includes 24 hours of classroom lecture, homework assignments, and a final exam. Arguably one of the most valuable aspect of this course is the live crash testing conducted during the course which offers the student the opportunity to apply the classroom theory to practical, hands-on crash situations in a controlled setting.

Major course topics include:

  • By the end of this course, the student will have been offered the tools through which he or she may better understand and analyze low speed collisions and related concepts in the broader sense. This course alone is not sufficient to prepare one to undertake general collision reconstruction insofar as it is topic specific to low speed collisions as defined. With respect to the biomechanical concepts, this course is intended to provide an overview of low speed biomechanics as a guideline to help evaluate the injury potential in a collision not to qualify one as a biomechanist in the field of low speed collision reconstruction. The information offered through this course can; however, be used to evaluate the accuracy and/or foundation of various opinions or assumptions which may be set forth in a particular situation or case.

Specific course objectives for this course include and are not limited to:

  • The student will be able to describe the different types of energy absorption systems employed on motor vehicles, their characteristics and general application by vehicle type.
  • The student will be able to articulate the application of the concept of "conservation of momentum" as it is applied to "low speed" collision and demonstrate an understanding of the application "restitution" being able to calculate that quantity for a given set of collision facts.
  • The student will demonstrate an understanding of the effect of external forces on the cars involved in a "low speed" collision. The student will then demonstrate a theoretical understanding of the analysis of a "low speed" collision using a momentum approach and considering the effect of restitution and external forces.
  • The student will be provided with the information necessary to enable him/her to research sources of information on motor vehicles and their susceptibility to damage in low speed collisions and an understanding of the practical application of analytical methods of analysis of "low speed" collisions.
  • The student will be able to calculate delta-V and impact speed ranges in "low speed" collisions and demonstrate an understanding of the sources of information available to the reconstructionist undertaking an analysis of a "low speed" collision including published information and that which might be collected in situation-specific testing.
  • The student will demonstrate an understanding of the basic physics principles which are necessary in the reconstruction or biomechanical analysis of a "low speed" collision including a familiarization with biomechanical testing methods, the appropriateness of various human surrogates in "low speed" collisions, and an understanding of occupant motion and tolerances to various "low speed" impacts including frontal, lateral, sideswipe and rear impacts.
  • The student will be exposed to the anatomy of the spine and the fundamentals of the biomechanics of spinal injury as a result of "low speed" collisions and develop an understanding of analytical techniques used to evaluate commonly encountered injuries found as a result of "low speed" collisions.

Tuition: $675 (USD)
Featured Instructor: Thomas Szabo

Upcoming Courses:
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Contact us to schedule this class at your location. (858) 484-9795