The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -ARnews-

Re: 1979 Cadillac Fleetwood

Wilt Nelson (WIL7MO@aol.com)
Wed, 15 Apr 1998 21:39:34 -0400 (EDT)

#1 A search of MVD records by the VIN should determine if the car has been scrapped. Given the low speed (accelerating 10 to 15 ft) there shouldn't be a lot of damage. If the title is not scrapped, do some leg work and check all the companies that towed it, also the insurance company and any buyers of the salvage. Presuming this has occurred in the past 12 months you should still be able to find the car.
#2 Simply bracket the speed using a drag factor range, e.g.: Baker's table NWTI. With such a short distance the speed range will be very small. Even if you had the precise acceleration data for the car you still have the vaugness of the human driving it and whether he floored it or eased it out and couldn't be precise in court. However, if the range using e.g.; 0.1 to 0.3, is 5.5 to 6.7 mph you will have provided a reasonable estimate that is too low to cause the catastrophc injury you report to the other driver.
#3 I have a neighbor who thinks he has two collectors items (old Caddies)- I disagree, but will have to check and find out the years. One is a limo. Both are being used as transportation and in reasonably good shape.
Wilt
Wilt Nelson
WIL7MO@aol.com

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