| Sector | Service Provided | Location |
| Road | Vehicle and seatbelt examination; vehicle data download; airbag control module analysis | United Kingdom |
Overview
An insurer received a personal injury claim involving five injured parties said to have been involved in a rear-end collision. The circumstances were unusual given the location and time of the collision, and the insurer instructed Rimkus’s vehicle-borne data experts to determine whether crash data could help establish what had actually happened.
Client Challenge
Where a claim’s circumstances raise doubt but conventional evidence is limited, establishing the true number of occupants in a vehicle, their positions, and whether they were wearing seatbelts at the time of a collision can be difficult without an objective, independent data source.
Our Approach
Our forensic investigation team conducted a vehicle and seatbelt examination and a full vehicle data download, extracting and interpreting the information recorded by the airbag control module at the time of the collision. Our reconstruction experts coordinated their investigation with our team of biomechanists to understand the likely injury patterns based on the mechanics of the collision.
Value delivered
The airbag control module data showed that only the two front seats were occupied at the time of the collision, indicating that five people could not have been in the vehicle as claimed. This gave the insurer clear, objective grounds on which to challenge the claim.
This case study is intended to provide general information and insights into prevailing industry practices. It is not intended to constitute, and should not be relied upon as, legal, technical, or professional advice. The content does not replace consultation with a qualified expert or professional regarding the specific facts and circumstances of any particular matter.