Evidence Documentation & Interpretation Flashcards
7 cards from real ACTAR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Evidence Documentation & Interpretation flashcards as text
Which type of skid mark pattern is most indicative of a vehicle in a yaw (sideslip) condition?
Answer: Curved marks with striated edges showing sidewise scrubbing
Yaw marks appear as curved striations caused by the tire scrubbing sideways across the pavement, distinguishing them from straight locked-wheel skid marks.
When documenting crash scene evidence with 3D laser scanning (LiDAR), what critical metadata must be recorded alongside the scan data?
Answer: Scanner position coordinates, date/time, atmospheric conditions, and scene reference points
Proper LiDAR documentation requires recording scanner position coordinates, date and time of capture, atmospheric conditions affecting accuracy, and reference control points for registration.
A fluid trail leading from a crash scene to the vehicle's final rest position most reliably documents what?
Answer: The post-impact travel path of the leaking vehicle
A fluid trail begins at the point of impact where a fluid-carrying component is ruptured and traces the vehicle's movement path to its final rest position.
In accident reconstruction evidence documentation, 'triangulation' refers to:
Answer: Locating a point by measuring distances from two known reference points
Triangulation is a surveying method that locates a point by measuring its distance from at least two established reference points, fixing its position on the diagram.
When should scene measurements for a serious crash reconstruction ideally be taken?
Answer: As soon as possible before the scene is disturbed or altered
Measurements should be taken as soon as safely possible because evidence degrades rapidly due to traffic, weather, cleaning operations, and time.
Which evidence item would BEST help a reconstructionist determine the pre-crash speed of a vehicle that left no skid marks before impact?
Answer: Event Data Recorder (EDR/black box) data from the vehicle
EDR data captures pre-crash vehicle speed in the seconds before impact and is among the most reliable objective evidence for pre-impact speed when no skid marks are present.
What does 'scuff mark' documentation reveal that a standard skid mark does NOT?
Answer: Evidence of lateral tire movement indicating steering or yaw input
Scuff marks, unlike purely longitudinal skid marks, show lateral tire scrubbing that indicates the vehicle was simultaneously decelerating and turning or yawing.