ABSTRACT
The personal computer has been a useful, if not overused, tool in modem accident reconstruction. Applying generalized computer codes to a specific accident allows the engineer or reconstructionist to examine the effect of input changes on the result. For instance, performing a momentum analysis for a two-vehicle collision is simple enough to do by hand. However, an accurate result requires that there is little uncertainty in the input variables, especially impact and departure angles. If a reconstructionist wishes to determine if the speeds become unreasonable by a slight change in angle, he or she will need plenty of time, paper, and lead. With a properly written computer program, a parametric analysis becomes nearly instantaneous.
