UP 5

GR O
104
CDI
 TABLE OF
CONTENTS

5.4
TRAFFIC
ACCIDENT
SKID MARKS AS A
INVESTIGATION

5.6
TOOL IN TRAFFIC
ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION

5.5
HIT AND RUN
ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION
 SS O N
LE NT
4
5. CCI DE
F I C A O N
A F AT I
TR ST I G
IN VE
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
INVESTIGTION
Generally, to know what question to ask and
what to look for, you must have some
fundamental bearing on accidents and their
causes. When you speak of traffic accident,
everybody knows what you mean –
SOMETHING WENT WRONG on the
highway, either a wrecked car, somebody
injured or possibly killed.
A. WHAT TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION DETERMINES?
Know the five (5) “Ws” and one (1) “H” of
the incident:
■ WHAT happened?
■ WHO and WHAT was involved?
■ WHERE did it happen?
■ WHY did it happen?
■ HOW did the accident occur?
■ WHEN did the accident occur?
B. PURPOSE OF TRAFFIC
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
There are four (4) main reasons, depending
on who does the investigation.
EVERYONE
Is curious about the causes and circumstances of the accident.
INVOLVED

To find out whether there is enough evidence of law violation in the

FOR THE POLICE
accident.

ATTORNEYS AND Want to determine negligence on the part of the drivers involved in the
ADJUSTERS accident so that damage claims can be properly adjusted.

OFFICIALS AND Want specific information about accidents to know how to prevent future
OTHERS accidents.
C. COMMON WORDS AND
PHRASES USED IN TRAFFIC
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
The following words and phrases with their
corresponding meaning are often used in the
process:
 An occurrence in a sequence of events usually produces unintended injury, death, or
ACCIDENT
property damage.
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT An accident involving travel transportation on a traffic way
Events resulting in unintended injury or property damage attributable directly or indirectly to the
action of a motor vehicle or its loads.

Included: Accidental injury from inhalation of exhaust gas, fires, explosion, discharge of a
firearm within the motor vehicle while in motion, collision between a motor vehicle and a
railroad train or streetcar on stationary rails or tracks, and Failure of any part of the motor vehicle
MOTOR VEHICLE while the vehicle is in motion.
ACCIDENT
Excluded: Collision of a motor vehicle with an aircraft or water-craft in motion, injury or damage
due to cataclysms (flood or sudden physical change of the earth's surface), and injury or damage
while the motor vehicle is not under its power is being loaded on or unloaded from another
conveyance.

Every device which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by

MOTOR VEHICLE
electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.
 An event on the road which characterizes the manner of occurrence of a motor vehicle traffic
KEY EVENT
accident.
The scattered broken parts of vehicles, trash, dust, and other materials left at the scene of the
DEBRIS
accident cause by a collision.
SKID These are marks left on the roadway by tires which are not free to rotate, usually because
MARKS brakes are applied strong, and the wheels locked.
Any person using a traffic way for travel, parking or other purposes, as a pedestrian or driver,
including any vehicle, or an animal that he is using. It. applies not only to motor vehicles but
TRAFFIC
also to: Pedestrians, cyclists, streetcars, horse-drawn (animal-drawn) vehicles, farm tractors,
UNIT
and other road users/in almost any combination - Example: A traffic accident could involve a
cyclist and pedestrian.
Is generated when a critical space-motion Relationships between a traffic unit and another
HAZARDS object develop due to the movement of either or both. Example: A curve in the path is a hazard.
Another traffic unit in the path is also a hazard.
 The speed is adjusted to the potential or possible hazards or the road and traffic
situation ahead. Safe speed on the road is determined by the road rather than the
SAFE SPEED
driver of a vehicle. Example: A curve ahead is a hazard and a safe speed for it is a
speed at which it can be taken comfortably.
It is the adjusting of speed, position on the road, and the direction of motion, giving
STRATEGY signals of intent to turn or slow down,
any other action in situations involving potential hazards.
Any action was taken by the traffic unit to avoid hazardous situations like steering,
TACTIC
braking, or accelerating to avoid collision or accident.
The striking of one body against another or a collision of a motor vehicle with
IMPACT
another motor vehicle.
Damage to a vehicle resulting from the direct pressure of some foreign object in a
CONTACT
collision or rollover. It is usually indicated by striations, rub-off of material or
DAMAGE
puncture,
 Any circumstance Contributing to a result without which the result could not have
FACTOR
occurred, or it IS an element necessary to produce the result, but not by itself sufficient.
PRIMARY A misnomer loosely applied to the most obvious or easily explained factor in the cause of
CAUSE an accident or the most easily modified condition factor.
The combination of simultaneous and sequential factors
CAUSE
without any one of which results could not have occurred
Any inherent characteristics of a road, a vehicle, or a person that affects the probability of a
ATTRIBUTE
traffic accident.

MODIFIER A circumstance that alters an attribute permanently or temporarily

D. KINDS OF TRAFFIC
ACCIDENT
In the investigation of traffic accidents,
it is imperative for the traffic investigator to
know the kinds of accident occurred in order
to map out the necessary activities to be
done when responding and investigating.
 Refers to any accident occurring on a traffic way involving
persons using the traffic way or transportation, but not involving a
NON-MOTOR VEHICLE
motor vehicle in motion.
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
Example: pedestrian and cyclist in a traffic way:
Any motor vehicle accident which occurs entirely in any place
MOTOR VEHICLE NON- other than a traffic way.
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
Example: accident on a private driveway.

Any motor vehicle accident occurring on a traffic way.

MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC
ACCIDENT
Example: collision between automobiles on a highway.
E. CLASSIFICATION OF MOTOR
VEHICLE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
ACCORDING TO KEY EVENT

1. RUNNING OFF ROAD

This is usually characterized by a Motor
vehicle falling on the roadside or on a cliff
along mountainous roads.
2. NON-COLLISION ON ROAD
This does not involve any collision an
example of which is overturning
3. COLLISION ON ROAD
On the other hand, this type of accident includes all forms of accidents if there is a
collision. Examples of this are motor vehicles colliding with:

a. Pedestrian - may be walking, running or standing on a roadway

b. Other motor vehicle in traffic - may be head-on, head and rear, sides in
opposite direction, sides in the same direction, head and side collision, etc.
c. Parked motor vehicle - the form of collision may be similar toa moving vehicle like
head on collision, however, one is parked anywhere on a roadway.

d. Railroad train - this type of collision usually occurs along railroad crossings.

e. Bicycle - in this form of collision, it is either the motor vehicle or the bicyclists who
initiated the collision.

f. Fixed object – traffic islands, pedestrian barriers, electric post

g. Other objects- streetcars, ice cream vendor, etc.
F. CLASSIFICATION OF
ACCIDENTS ACCORDING TO
SEVERITY
PROPERTY DAMAGE There is no fatal injury to any person but only damage to the
ACCIDENT motor vehicle or to other property including injury to animals.
SLIGHT Only sight damages to properties
NON-FATAL INJURY
This results in injuries other than fatal to one or more persons.
ACCIDENT
LESS SERIOUS Only less serious injuries to persons

SERIOUS This causes serious injuries to persons.

FATAL This results in death to one or more persons

G. CAUSES OF MOTOR VEHICLE
TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
occur due to varying circumstances and only after a thorough investigation,
when liability and responsibility can be ascertained. Notwithstanding that
no driver will readily accept that he initiated the accident. With these, the
traffic investigator is faced with the gargantuan task of bringing out the
truth on who should be held responsible for the unusual incident,
the primary concern will be to determine how and why the accident,
happened.
 a. Road conditions.

SIMULTANEOUS FACTORS b. Drivers’ attitude or behavior.

c. Weather condition
a. Speed is greater or less than safe.
SEQUENTIAL FACTORS
b. Defective vehicle (vehicle malfunction).
a. Road hazards
OPERATIONAL FACTORS
b. Detective non-compliance to traffic laws, rules and
regulations
 When all possible causes of an accident have been grouped together
by an investigating officer and he believes the accident would not have
occurred if any one of these causes did not exist, then the investigator
may have identified the combination of factors causing the accident.

On-the-scene reconstruction of a traffic accident relates accident

causation to direct causes for summary police action and to direct
mediate and early causes for ongoing studies of high-frequency accident
locations and future research and analysis
 H. CHAIN OF EVENTS IN A
VEHICULAR ACCIDENT
For the purpose of reporting, traffic accident may usually be described well enough
as a single occurrence but when accident is investigated, attention is directed to
stages of the occurrence. In fact, an accident may be usually defined as a series of
an expected events usually leads to another so that the series can be spoken of as a
“chain of events.” These events are described as illustrated next:
1. PERCEPTION OF HAZARD
It is seeing, feeling, or hearing and understanding the
usual or unexpected movement or condition that could be taken as
sign of the accident about to happen.
2. START OF EVASIVE ACTION
It is the first action taken by a traffic unit to escape from a collision course or
otherwise avoid a hazard.
3. INITIAL CONTACT
The first accidental touching of an object collision course or otherwise avoids a
hazard
4. MAXIMUM ENGAGEMENT
It is greatest collapse or overlap in a collision. The force between the traffic unit
and the object collided with the greatest at maximum engagement.
5. DISENGAGEMENT
It is the separation of a traffic unit in motion from an object which it has
collided. The force between the object ceases at this time.
6. STOPPING
This is when the traffic unit/s come to rest. It usually
stabilizes the accident situation.
7. INJURY
It is receiving bodily harm. This event does not necessary occur after the accident but within
any of the chain of events. It may also happen right after the evasive action taken by the drivers
involved or during the initial contact.

8. OTHER EVENTS THAT MAY OCCUR DURING AN ACCIDENT

a. Point of Possible Perception -The place and time of which the hazard could have been
perceived by a normal person. It precedes actual perception and is the beginning of perception
delay.
b. Point of no Escape - It is that place and time after or beyond the accident
cannot be prevented by the traffic unit under consideration.
c. Perception delay – The time from the point of possible perception to
actual perception

d. Final position – It is the place and time when objects involved in an

accident finally come to rest without application of power.
 I. FIVE (5) LEVELS OF ACTIVITY
IN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
In the investigation of traffic accidents, the police are guided by the following
stages or levels of investigation:
 This involves efforts to
This level involves all action determine whatever information
taken by the investigator at the is available, how accident
scene of the crime of accident happened

AT-SCENE TECHNICAL PROFESSIONAL CAUSE

REPORTING
INVESTIGATION PREPARATION RECONSTRUCTION ANALYSIS

This stage involves basic data
collection to identify and classify a
motor vehicle, traffic and persons,
property and planned movements
involved.
This involves delayed traffic This last level usually involves
accident data collection and final analysis on the causes of
organization for study and accident which are bases for the
interpretation prevention of similar accident
 J. STEPS TAKEN BY THE POLICE
DURING TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION
Like in any other forms of police investigations, the traffic investigators follow
chronological steps in responding and investigating traffic-related accidents to
insure gathering of thorough information.
01 UPON LEARNING
THE CASE
a. Ask first: When the accident happened;
where and how bad was it; did you see the
accident happened; and where can you be
reached?
b. Decide whether to go to the scene: Will
scene have been cleared by the time of arrival;
is it in investigator's area; and should
headquarters be informed or consulted?
c. Then find out, if necessary: Is traffic
blocked; has ambulance been called; has
wrenched been called; and was fire apparatus
called?
02 START FOR
THE SCENE
With two-way radio, you can do two
things while on the way.
a. Choose Best Approach. Consider: Time; possible traffic jams;
possible route of driver involved; and probable situation at scene.
b. Drive Safely. Get there safely: if you get involved in yourself,
then other units must be used.
c. Be Alert for Cars Leaving the scene: AS possible witnesses or hit
and run drivers; and record registration numbers of any lie looking
vehicles
d. Get Equipment Ready for Use. So far as practical on the way
e. Look for Conditions confronting a driver approaching Scene: Low
visibility view obstructions, and traffic control devices.
f. Note Hazards to approaching Traffic: Drop helper to direct traffic
if necessary; and look for physical evidence. Have it guarded until it
can be examined, collected
or located.
03 UPON ARRIVAL AT THE
ACCIDENT SCENE
a. Select parking place carefully: Is it safe?; Will it block traffic?; and can headlight illuminate scene?
b. Care for injured: Stop arterial bleeding; call for help if necessary; help injured from cars safely;
protect injured from exposure; and ask for emergency assistance from bystanders from anywhere.
c. Look over bystanders and others: Look for drivers; look for possible witnesses; look for volunteers
who will help you; and get them under control
d. Have Emergencies Under Control: Have spilled gasoline guarded; look for fire and electrical
hazards; look for traffic hazards; put out fires; ask helper to direct traffic, keep bystanders off roadway;
and request help from headquarters if needed.
e. Locate drivers: Consider possibility of hit and run accident; and need to alert headquarters.
f. Measure location of short lived evidences.
g. Arrange for clearing roadway.
h. Delay removal of vehicles except to aid injured.
04 WHEN EMERGENCY IS UNDER
CONTROL
a. Preliminary questioning of drivers: Who was driving each vehicle?; Note unpremeditated Statement; and look
for signs of nervousness, confusion and intoxication.
b. Gather clues for identifying hit and run cars: Question other witnesses especially bystanders in hurry to go;
and if needed, get signed statement at once rom why who may.be hard to find later.
c. Examine drivers’ conditions: Get specimen for chemical test; and question about trip plan for possible fatigue.
d. Question drivers carefully: Check license and record data from it; verify and identify address; check registration
and record data; verify ownership and correct address; and Get step by step account of what driver saw and did.
e. Position and condition of vehicles: Note lights and light switches; note gear position and tires; mark position of
vehicles if it must be removed; and look for unusual thing inside the vehicles.
f. Form preliminary opinion as to how accident occurs.
g. Photography: Photograph skid mark and location of vehicles; and mark skid mark location for later
measurement.
h. Record place to which injured persons or damage vehicles were or will be taken.
05 AFTER GETTING SHORT-LIVE
EVIDENCE
a. Get additional evidence: Make test skids; decide whether proof of violation is sufficient for arrest; if so, make arrest or issue citation; get
additional formal statements, from witnesses remaining at the scene; and have road clear if traffic is obstructed.
b. Suggestion to drivers, if necessary: How much accidents can be avoided in the future; and tell drivers what reports they must make and
dismiss them.
c. Approach the scene by path of each traffic unit involved. Look for: View obstructions; traffic control devices, etc.; probable points of
perception; and road surface conditions.
d. Complete examinations of vehicles.
e. Locate key event of accident.
f. Make additional photographs of Vehicle damage: view obstruction; pavement's conditions; and control devices, general view, etc.
g. Establish exact location of accident and record it.
h. Measure for scale diagram if location is hard to reach.
i. Review notes of evidence or testimony: Get additional facts at scene; and identify all notes with places and time.
J. Clean up location or arrange to have it done.
k. Report to headquarters by radio or telephone. Nowadays, the cellular phone is a ready alternative in reporting to police
headquarter.
 
06 AFTER LEAVING THE SCENE
a. Get medical report on injured persons from doctor or hospital
b. Question drivers or witnesses: At hospital or home if not adequately questioned; and take needed additional statements.
c. Notify: Relatives of dead or injured; and/or Owner of vehicles
d. Have specimens analyzed if were taken for chemical o laboratory test.
e. Have photograph developed; get prints if needed for report
f. Complete the report of the accident: Have copies if made necessary; file report and copies; and complete factual data on
investigation report if not completed at scene.
g. Decide whether analysis of accident is warranted by the time available for making it.
h. Reconstruction of the accident: Estimate speeds of vehicles involved; draw scale diagram; analyze angle of collision; get
technical help if necessary, and summarize opinions.
i. Present case summary to a lawyer
j. Complete report or investigation.
k. Submit to superior for approval.
l. Inform other Agencies or departments of any condition at the scene which needs attention for safety.
07 IF CASE GOES TO COURT
a. Find Out what the prosecutor wants further to develop evidence.
b. Return to the scene if necessary for the following: Additional photographs of general scene and long-lived
evidence; measure for scale diagram for use in court; and Locate additional witnesses and review their testimony.
c. Locate also, if necessary: Relatives and friends who confirm activities before the accident; technicians who
developed pictures made chemical tests, etc., and expert who can help.
d. Have enlargement made of any photo needed in court
e. Enlarge scale diagram made for court use.
f. Pre-trial conference with prosecution witnesses to review testimony.
g. Insure that subpoenas are issued.
h. Testify in court.
i. Organize papers and file permanently, if necessary, for future reference.
j. Insure that the disposition of case is recorded in drivers’ record and other reports.
 
 K. THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
REPORT
In the preparation of the traffic accident investigation report, the officer of the case must consider the following:

1. Uniform traffic Accident Reporting System.

2. Preparation of Traffic Accident Report:
a. By a competent, bonafide traffic accident investigator.
b. Requirements for an investigator in the submission of report such as evidence gathered,
diagrams, sketches as well as sworn statements or witnesses.
c. Traffic Accident Investigation Report will be accomplished in five (5) copies for: the Court
or Prosecutor's Office; TRAFCOM (TMG) or Traffic Division; the Investigator; the Insurance
company of Party-involved #1; and the Insurance Co. of Party-involved #2.
 L. SAMPLE OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION REPORT FORM
Attached on the next slide is an example of the standard traffic accident
investigation report form used to facilitate speedy investigation of accidents. The
form is designed for an expeditious investigation because it is filled-up mostly by
checking the corresponding boxes that describe the accident.
However, additional paper is usually used by traffic investigators to prepare the on-
the-spot sketch of the accident scene.