The Art of Preservation

Preserving an accident scene is the first priority following a loss. Until recently, forensic engineers had to follow painstaking procedures to perform a complete inspection.

Upon arrival at the scene, the engineer had to take numerous photos and measurements -- as precise as possible with rudimentary tools like a measuring tape and the naked eye -- and manually sketch out the scene by hand.

The process is known as preserving, or memorializing, the scene. This site documentation enables forensic engineers to thoroughly reconstruct the accident to determine causation.

Based on a forensic investigation of the scene and a review of documents and testimony, causation can then be categorized into three scenarios: design limitations, human error, or environmental factors.

In the weeks and months following an accident and the period leading up to a trial, the evidence may change due to environmental or other factors, and the memory of what exactly occurred may fade. Preserving the scene can solve this problem and can prove crucial in many cases.