Crash Forensics Analysis, is a process commonly applied to motor-vehicle collisions and determines impact circumstances from physical evidence and reported testimony. This is accomplished through the application of applied physics, research and medicine in determining potential injury outcomes of occupants. It is most dependent on the physical equations developed by Sir Isaac Newton, most commonly referred to as Newtonian Physics for the purposes of analysis in determining occupant kinematics and injury outcomes. The mathematical relationship between energy dissipation and work, the principle of Conservation of Energy, and the principle of Conservation of Linear Momentum and how these factors influence occupant kinematics and injury.

Motor Vehicle Crash Forensics and Functional Medicine Evaluations Overview

Below is a detailed explanation of what a Motor Vehicle Crash Forensics Risk Analysis and Functional Medicine Examinations is and how it can help to provide a better understanding of the forces involved in a motor vehicle crash, including injury mechanisms, occupant kinematics and risk factors that can lead to prolonged healing periods, disability and chronic pain if proper and specific treatment is not provided in a timely manner post motor vehicle accident.

Crash Forensics Analysis, is a process commonly applied to motor-vehicle collisions and determines impact circumstances from physical evidence and reported testimony.  This is accomplished through the application of applied physics, research and medicine in determining potential injury outcomes of occupants. It is most dependent on the physical equations developed by Sir Isaac Newton, most commonly referred to as Newtonian Physics for the purposes of analysis in determining occupant kinematics and injury outcomes.  The mathematical relationship between energy dissipation and work, the principle of Conservation of Energy, and the principle of Conservation of Linear Momentum and how these factors influence occupant kinematics and injury.

Crash Forensics Analysis is however as much an art as it is science. The art is knowing which equations apply to each accident, knowing what input assumptions are reasonable, knowing what factors constrain a solution (such as one vehicle cannot physically pass through another), knowing when independent methods can be applied to validate a solution, and knowing how the body reacts during different vector collisions with different weighted objects.  These factors together help to paint a picture of potential occupant injury including: shear injury, compression injury, distraction injury and torsion injury. 

A crash analysis and functional medicine examination is essentially the application of physics to a collision scenario in order to determine force vectors and occupant reactions that help to determine the exact soft tissue injured and provide with reasonable certainty the extent of the injury sustained. This is accomplished by using physics and occupant kinematics / biomechanics along with current knowledge of forces affecting spinal motion and patient risk factors to determine occupant body actions during the accident sequence allowing for a precise and accurate injury explanation. Information such as the point of impact, the impact angles, safety factors (airbags / seatbelts), occupant position, and the weights of the vehicles are all inputs to the equations used in crash analysis of an accident.  By performing this examination, a more detailed and specific treatment plan can be made which can help reduce the chance of chronicity of symptoms and help expedite the overall recovery process. 

Motor Vehicle Forensics Crash Risk Analysis and Functional Assessment Report

A Motor Vehicle Forensics Crash Risk Analysis and Functional Assessment evaluates the impact of the motor vehicle accident on the individual’s physiological functioning taking into account the forces involved in the motor vehicle accident along with occupant kinematics, biomechanics, research, psychological factors and risk factors along with relevant medical history to help provide an accurate, scientifically based injury diagnosis which helps to stream line treatment and reduce overlap of treatment services.

By providing a scientifically based injury assessment using biomechanics, crash forensics, and occupant kinematics, injury determinations can be more precise thus helping healthcare providers to provide more specific treatment protocols with the hope to reduce the clients overall chance of developing chronic disability and expedite maximal medical recovery.

To accomplish this objective, this assessment will consider available medical information, the evaluee’s presentation and history offered in a clinical interview, along with the crash forensics and the evaluee’s responses to various tests and measures

The report will/can consist of the following topics.

1. Accident / Injury History
2. Past Medical History
3. Case Review: Documentation, Injury and Treatment
4. Neuromuscular Evaluation and Assessment
5. Crash Forensics Evaluation and Assessment
6. Crash Force Assessment – Engineering
7. Occupant Force Assessment - Engineering
8. Occupant Kinematics/Biomechanics Evaluation and Assessment
9. Pain Evaluation and Assessment
10. MTBI Evaluation and Assessment
11. Injury Evaluation and Assessment
12. Risk Evaluation and Assessment
13. Prognosis
14. Recommendations
15. Research Supporting Conclusions

The report concludes with a diagnostic opinion and/or identification of injuries caused by, or exacerbated by, the accident along with treatment recommendations, if any, which are considered necessary for the evaluee’s rehabilitation. Finally, it attempts to answer questions raised in regards to the necessity of treatment, the appropriateness of disability benefits if applicable and the need for multiple healthcare disciplines at this stage in the evaluee’s recovery.

This is a unique and specialized report and is scientifically backed by peer reviewed scientific research (usually between 100-250 references).  Dr. Mazzarella, the reports primary assessor is one of only a select few healthcare providers in Canada (and the world) with training in all of the areas listed above.  This helps to reduce “guess work” that is commonly found in reports with several providers where one provider must summarize the findings of others without an intimate knowledge of all of the area’s in discussion.  The opinions made in this report are determined in conjunction with physical findings, patient interview and knowledge of the most up to date peer reviewed scientific research. 

Motor Vehicle Forensics Crash Risk Analysis and Functional Injury Biomechanics

Dr. Mazzarella and the staff at the NASI are specially trained in injury/impact biomechanics, occupant kinematics and crash forensics. Using medical records, physical examinations, diagnostic images and occupant/vehicle examinations along with the most up to date scientific literature, our injury group of professionals including doctors and engineers combines to make a medical and engineering opinion assessing the causal relationship between diagnosed injuries and loads applied during an event.

Our in-house ability to perform the collision reconstruction and the injury biomechanical analysis ensures a consistent and complete understanding of the incident and injuries.

This assessment is one of the only assessments in Ontario that provides both a medical and engineering opinion (by doctors and engineers) and due to the nature of the report and the evaluators that complete the report both a diagnoses on injuries and loads applied during an event can be provided with the highest degree of certainty. 

Please contact the North American Spine Institute for evaluators/assessors CV/credentials, pricing and for any additional questions.