Accident Diagram Program

[Thomas L McCauley]

I am finding that there is a tremendous amount of knowledge here on the forum boards, so I have another question.

We have been considering, for the past few months, purchasing a some software to do basic accident diagrams with. Something that we could enter the number of lanes, and measurements for road widths, sign placement, etc., that would give a decent, printable diagram. We have been doing them, by hand, when necessary on Personal Injury cases, but this is somewhat time consuming, and not as scale oriented as a computer drafted program would be.

Did I mention that it would need to be very reasonably priced. Personal injury accidents are not a major part of my business, so I can't spend a fortune, but I realize that they probably aren't free. If they are free - this foum will probably have some one who knows where it is at.

Thanks -

[William H Van Meter]

We have been considering, for the past few months, purchasing a some software to do basic accident diagrams with.
Thanks - [/B][/QUOTE]

I sure hope so as this is one of my favorite things I did when I worked Law Enforment. Please Let me if there is.
:)

[Thomas L McCauley]

Well Bill,

It looks like it is just you and I out here. I had expected that this subject would get more response - and had really hoped it would kick up something cheap or free. I'm not looking to do a full fledged reconstruction, just a basic diagram that I could list my coordinates in and get it to spit out a pretty drawing - is that to much to ask?

[Debra Lewis -]

try grid graph paper. An Art Supply store should have it. You can use a legend to declare what distance a grid square is.
Like 1 square = 3 ft.
At least it will be quicker than drawing from scratch.

[William H Van Meter]

Thomas

Well I will keep you posted on this, for I am now looking into it to see what i can find. I am going back to my Law Enforment books and see if they have some type of information about were I can find something. I have two good leads at this time but they have not responded to my request. Well have to wait and see what happens. Let me know if you find any thing. I am going to add this to my bookmark, so I can come back to it every other day or so.:)

[Debra Lewis -]

it would be worth it to look into a CAD program.
Computer aided design. I don't know much more than that. Architects and engineers use CAD.

[Thomas L McCauley]

I don't really think I can justify the expense of a CAD system - not with just one or two diagrams a week to do, but I appreciate the info. I know there is an inexpensive (or maybe free) program out there somewhere.

[Timothy Greenlee]

Thomas, I use Corel Draw and Paint and have designed a few graphics for the company that i work for now. I have not seen any software like what you are looking for but will keep my eyes open. The Corel program is expensive also but something to look into. It is very powerful software and you can just about design anything you want on it.



Joy is not in things. It is in you.

[Thomas L McCauley]

Tim,

Thanks - Looks like I will just keep drawing by hand for now.

I use to do a lot of crime scene drawings and fatal crash diagrams - so its not like I can't do them - it just so time consuming to do and I am somewhat of a perfectionist, so . . . they take some time.

Thanks!

Tom McCauley

[William H Van Meter]

Tom

I just got offline with the Northwestern University. They do a lot of teaching on Accident Investigation for Law Enforcement. They said that quote, "The only computer program available for Accident Investigations is the On-Line course at the Center for Public Safety", unquote. If you would like to E-mail Joyce at Northwestern, her address is: joyce@northwestern.edu . This might help. If you do find anything about this please let me know. Thanks:)

[Thomas L McCauley]

Bill,

Thank you very much. I''ll check into that.




Tom

[William H Van Meter]

Hi Tom

Just got off from work and I was going thru the forums when I came across you last message. There is still one more place I have sent a e-mail to, but no response at this time. Well keep you up to date. :)

[Jeanie Schraeder -]

Hello Tom, Bill, Debra and Tim,

It's been a few years (pre-personal computer) since I've done any accident diagrams, I use to enjoy it also.

Here are a couple of freebie downloads:

This site has links to various resources for Accident Investigators, also if you scroll down there is an Accident Investigation software section:

Accident Investigation and Reconstruction Resource Center (http://www.pimall.com/nais/accres.html)

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And this one is apparently customizable for both American and European formats:

Computer Software For The Accident Investigator (http://www.crash-2000.co.uk/)

I can't comment on the quality as they are Windows compatible and I run Mac OS; but thought I'd pass them along in hopes they might be useful to someone else. :)

If anyone has the opportunity to test any of this software, I would be interested in the reviews, positive or negative. :)

____________________
Jeanie M. Schraeder

[Steve Degon]

I also do accident Investigation/Reconstruction and I found if you go to http://server.traffic.northwestern.edu/cart/item_detail.asp?id=36 you find some forms you can purchase I not sure about software.

[William H Van Meter]

Jeanie, Steve

Thank you for the information. As for the northwesternuniversity.com. I looked into it and found some information I could use. Now for Jeanie sites, I just downloaded the address and I will take a look at them and let you know what I think of them. Have a great PI week.:)

[Jeanie Schraeder -]

Thank You Bill,

I'm quite curious. :)

[William H Van Meter]

Tom and the rest of you. :D

Hello again from Washington St. :cool:

I was on the sites that Jeanie put on her posting. I found a web site, and if I read it correctly it will cost only $15 for the program. :D Just click on Steven W201 (members.aol.com/stevenw201/index.htm), and then click on Accident Reconstruction Calculator V 2.52. :cool:

This might help us. I have not downloaded it yet, because I have to use my wife computer until I get mine fix. :( Oh well can't win them all. :rolleyes:

Have a great PI day. :)

[Mark Cox]

Has anyone used Micsrosoft Visio for this purpose? I have used the application for other purposes like computer network diagraming, flow charts and org charts. It seems that it might be an easy to use application for diagraming accidents as well.

[Frederick Budde]

Mark;
I was waiting for someone to mention Visio. It can be easily adapted for use on sketches and diagrams.

Fred (The Mad Doctor)