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| Table of contents: Accident Investigation in the Private Sector Volume 3 |
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| • Big Trucks Equals Big Bucks (Chapter One) |
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Why big truck accidents generally result in million dollar plus claims. Compete descriptions of the types of trucks in these investigations. Special bonus: includes the "North American Truck Writer" Glossary of Terms. |
| • Photographing Commercial Vehicles (Chapter Two) |
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Thorough explanations of how to properly take photographs to present the best evidence of how and why the accident actually occurred. Explains the importants of multiple angle shots of same scenes for best documentation of accident. |
| • Tired Truckers Kill (Chapter Three) |
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How to investigate the sleep habits (or lack thereof) of the driver prior to the accident. Also includes the newly updated rules of the Department Of Transportation (2003). |
| • Brakes (Chapter Four) |
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The shortness of this title does not convey the importance of this chapter. Not surprisingly, bad brakes on motor vehicles are one of the leading causes of vehicular accidents. This chapter teaches you what to look for and how when examining the brakes. Also included is a complete glossary of terminology that will help you understand and interpret post crash inspections. |
| • Underride Accidents (Chapter Five) |
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An underride accident occurs when a vehicle collides with the side or rear of the trailer portion of an 18 wheeler, essentially "riding under" the truck. These are deadly accidents and need special knowledge and experience to reconstruct and explain. Chapter 5 will give you the expertise to conduct underride accident investigations. |
| • Tires (Chapter Six) |
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Defective or worn tires are a leading cause of truck and passenger vehicle accidents. Learn how to examine the tires of the involved vehicles with detailed information about the subject. Includes D.O.T. rating standards and a complete glossary of vehicle tire terminology. |
| • Occupant Seating (Chapter Seven) |
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Who was sitting where when the accident occurred? Who was driving? The importance of establishing occupant seating is addressed, revealing the investigative methods you need to establish exactly who sat where just prior to the accident. |
| • Black Box - Electronic Data Retrieval In Motor Vehicles (Chapter Eight) |
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Confused by Black Boxes? Wouldn't know one if you saw it, or what to do with it? Don't worry: you will have the expertise needed to collect data from black boxes after reading this enlightening chapter. Find out why this is one of the most important pieces of evidence you'll ever collect in a big truck accident investigation. As a bonus, a list of the current passenger vehicles equipped with this technology is also included. |
| • Seat Belts (Chapter Nine) |
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Seat belts are subject to significant failure rates, despite the common consumer belief that they are guaranteed to protect them in the event of a crash. Learn about the types of defective belts currently installed in motor vehicles on the road today. Also includes a list of vehicles that have these "suspect" belts. |
| • The Accident Investigator's Library (Chapter Ten) |
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In addition to this excellent work, there are a number of published works that are considered necessary to the success of an accident investigator. The authors present a list of major works with reviews. |
| • Web sites (Chapter Eleven) |
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What resources are there on the Internet that can aid the accident investigator in his work? The authors present a list of the best web sites and resources which apply specifically to the material in this volume, but also in general for all accident investigations. |
| • Retainers (Chapter Twelve) |
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Okay, you are used to accident investigations involving passenger vehicles only. But how much should your retainer be in an investigation involving big trucks and million dollar claims? The authors talk business in this section and give you the info you need when you're approaching the subject of the retainer for one of these accident investigations. Also included is an example retainer form that the authors use in their investigations |
