IT Forensics · Car

Forensic reconstruction of pre-crash data – forensic documentation of the vehicle’s condition prior to a collision

Pre-crash data comprises the vehicle parameters recorded in the final seconds before a collision – such as speed, brake application, steering angle and the status of driver assistance systems – which are stored in the event data recorder.

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This data provides a coherent picture of the immediate events surrounding the incident and often forms the basis for the technical reconstruction of how an accident occurred.

Why LanCologne?

Since its foundation, LanCologne has specialised in professional IT forensics. Our staff have decades of experience in the field of information technology and assist companies, solicitors, private individuals and, on a regular basis, the courts in the technical investigation of complex digital matters.

The examination is, as a matter of principle, carried out exclusively on a forensic copy, a forensic image or a data source captured in a technically equivalent manner that preserves the integrity of the evidence. The original evidence remains unchanged and is stored in a manner that preserves its integrity.

Our services

We extract and consolidate available pre-crash data from the relevant control units to create a coherent, forensically verifiable timeline of the final seconds leading up to the event.

Typical areas of application

•Reconstruction of the vehicle’s condition immediately prior to a collision
•Combining speed, braking and steering data
•Support with technical accident reports
•Determining whether an accident could have been avoided
•Judicial and non-judicial expert reports
•Cooperation with experts and insurance companies

This is how a pre-crash data analysis works

Once the relevant control units have been backed up, any available pre-crash data records are extracted and combined to form a chronological timeline of the final seconds leading up to the event.

Why is pre-crash data analysis relevant to forensic investigations?

A consolidated pre-crash timeline provides the most reliable basis available for the technical reconstruction of the seconds immediately preceding an accident.

This data is often of crucial importance in assessing whether an accident could have been prevented and in determining who is liable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many seconds before an event are typically recorded?+
This varies depending on the manufacturer and the control unit, and is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Is pre-crash data recorded in every accident?+
Not necessarily; the recording depends on the specific trigger event for the event data logger.
Can pre-crash data from multiple control units be contradictory?+
Minor deviations are technically possible and are documented and assessed accordingly during the evaluation.

LanCologne – Vehicle IT Forensics, Cologne

Do you require a professional forensic investigation into the „forensic reconstruction of pre-crash data"? LanCologne can assist you with the admissible preservation of digital evidence and the transparent analysis of relevant vehicle artefacts.

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