Is There a Future for Drones in Accident Cases?

When traffic accidents happen, the accident scene typically has to be assessed by the police to determine the circumstances involved and to help clear the crash site so that traffic can begin to proceed safely again. The longer this process takes, the more likely it becomes that a secondary accident stemming from the wreckage of the original accident will occur, and drone usage may have a significant role to play in shortening this window and helping to keep our roadways safer. If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, don’t delay consulting with an experienced New York City personal injury attorney.

Traffic Accidents

Traffic accidents are a fact of our heavily trafficked roads, and research out of Purdue University shares all of the following about these accidents (with statistics culled from various government agencies):

• When a traffic accident occurs, the slowdown in traffic and the obstacle created by the accident greatly increase the risk of a secondary accident happening, and these off-shoot accidents can be more dangerous than the originals.
• The risk of secondary accidents is 24 times greater during that time when an accident site is being documented and assessed by the police or highway officials.
• In 2016, there were upward of 37,000 traffic fatalities and 3 million more injuries.

Researchers at Purdue note that it’s those at the backend of any accident that are most vulnerable to oncoming motorists who may be inattentive to the fact that traffic has stalled or come to an abrupt halt. If we can find ways to speed up the process of investigating original accident scenes, we can help reduce secondary accidents, which is where drone technology comes in.

Speeding Up the Process

The Purdue report goes on to relay that traditional methods of mapping out the logistics of a serious traffic accident can take several hours but that a drone with thermal imaging capability can do the same work in from five to eight minutes – thus drastically reducing the associated danger. One official who has implemented drone technology for this very usage says that it can decrease traffic flow’s downtime by 60 percent overall. 

How It Works

The drone process is based on the following components:

• The drones capture images that clearly demonstrate the involved vehicles’ positions and the general terrain and infrastructure of the area adjacent to the accident site.
• The drones are programmed to travel in a grid pattern and to shoot in two-second intervals that capture about 100 photos at a time.
• The data gathered is then used – along with photos at the scene – to produce a 3D print of the accident scene.

It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced New York City Personal Injury Attorney

If a negligent motorist leaves you injured, the dedicated personal injury attorneys at Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman in NYC are committed to applying their decades of experience to helping you pursue your claim’s most favorable resolution. We’re on your side, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 212-285-3300 today.