Expert Testimony in Automobile Accident Case
Assessment of Claims of Two Drivers in Accident Case
What is your assessment of the claims made by the two drivers involved in the automobile accident case?
Assessment of Claims in Automobile Accident Case
As an expert witness, it is essential to assess the claims of both drivers in the accident case to determine liability. Let's examine the evidence and calculations to justify the assessment.
Determination of Coefficient of Kinetic Friction
To determine the coefficient of kinetic friction between the tires and the road for both the car and truck, we first calculate:
Coefficient of kinetic friction for the car:
μcar = Ff,car / Ncar = 100 / 130 = 0.7692
Coefficient of kinetic friction for the truck:
μtruck = 0.7 * μcar = 0.7 * 0.7692 = 0.5384
Speeds of Vehicles Before and After Collision
Using the equations for calculating final velocities after collision:
Final velocity of the car: 11.22 m/s
Final velocity of the truck: 10.90 m/s
Calculating speeds just before collision using conservation of momentum:
Speed of car before collision: 24.35 m/s
Speed of truck before collision: 4.73 m/s
Evaluation of Claims
1. The car driver's claim of making a full stop before the collision is inconsistent with the measured distance to the collision point and the car's acceleration capabilities.
2. The truck driver's claim of braking in anticipation of collision is contradicted by the skidding distance and initial speed at impact.
Considering the evidence and calculations, it is more likely that the truck driver was at fault for not paying attention and braking too late, leading to the accident.