How accurate are police investigations of speed after an accident?

Damn that sucks!!! If you were speeding and your vehicle was totaled would insurance cover it?

 

Well, this happened the Sunday before last, so I've had some time to take in the whole situation. I'm definitely thankful to be unhurt. I'm also extremely thankful that no one was on that sidewalk. I don't know how I could live with myself if I had taken someone's life in such a manner, as I had a friend get killed in that exact manner, so this hits home for me. All in all just a bizarre occurrence.

 

Yeah I'm pretty certain. I believe they would deny the claim if it was used in a crime, such as a bank robbery or such.

 

I know people who have rolled jeeps on straight level roads... It happens...

Impressive damage done though... If I were you I would start looking into a lower ball joint failure.

 

you speed every day...you'll get caught one day.
you play with your radio countless times...you'll crash one day.

unless your truck broke, this is on you, own it. you have to be goin pretty quick to blast through two light poles

 

^excellent response. I don't know why people are giving you shit, you admitted you screwed up and are asking for advice, and it was an accident. Most likely the cops saw the damage to the posts and your truck (holy shit btw), and likened it to other accidents with similar conditions where the vehicles were going 70+. Is there a way you can contact the officers and ask them how they got that speed? Did you ask at the time?Explain to the judge that you know you weren't going 70, however, if you admit to doing 55, he may consider that speeding anyway which will make a moot point.

 

Went to high school with a dude who flipped a Honda Del Sol on a straight road... Still no idea how he managed that.

 

Look into getting the computer read. Some Vehicles record speeds and such when airbags deploy.Also there are some lawyers that specialize in traffic citations, though they sometimes cost as much as the ticket at least you wouldn't have a point. Wouldn't hurt to call one and ask for advice.

 

Looks like that truck saved you. No forehead smashed on the front glass and you are here to tell us about it. Amazing.

You say that it seems the brakes weren't applied. Maybe being tossed around in the car (natural reaction is to put on brakes) you tried to put on brakes but hit the gas instead, causing the truck to go faster?

Thank goodness you are alright. There was someone watching over you during this.

 

If the officer is a certified accident reconstructionist (which all WV State Troopes are) then it would be very accurate. Not sure about your state tho.

 

He drove a Del Sol...Not a mental giant.

OP-Two concrete light poles straight on like that...WOW. Good thing you are still alive to fight the ticket.
I think it's been said already-but first "guesses" are just that. A true reconstruction is a different thing. You might get out of the ticket for the 70 in a 50...but you can still get a reckless or an excessive speed w/out an actual number. My guess is you won't get out of this one without paying some fines...It's just a matter of what you want to pay them for.

 

Probably a couple of squirrels going "Holy shit that guy's insane! We have to get down there now! He has to have the biggest nuts imaginable!"

 

I've wondered about this myself. When I got run over while on a motorcycle, I was doing about 35...after I got out of the hospital and read the police reports, they had me doing 55-60...in a 35mph zone. Never did figure that one out. There weren't any marks on the pavement...except maybe the blood trail. I figured they just guessed to cover themselves, but I don't know for sure what the reasoning was.

 

damb dude, sorry about your truck...

 

^^^This. All vehicles with an SRS system record vehicle speed and all sorts of other data at the time of deployment.

 

Damn, that's a little harsh. Back off the OP, there's no need for you to be an asshole.

OP, I'm glad you walked away from the crash alright.

 

+1

 

It depends -

I just sat through a seminar on this (didn't want to but that's another story) that was put on by a police offer who moonlights as an accident investigator / expert witness. According to him, many newer cars actually have a "Black Box" that records:

1) Speed
2) Break Pressure
3) Tempurature
4) And several other variables (including airbag and seat belt info)

Depending on the make / model of your vehicle, it will record as little as 5 seconds before to (in the case of Ford) 20 seconds before and 5 seconds afterward.

The info on the "Black Box" can be downloaded to a computer and are pretty damning evidence in court (computers lie a lot less than people).

 

GTFO