The Expert Series: Road Traffic Accident Reconstruction Seminar – Wed 20th June

The latest in our Expert Series of seminars focused on Road Traffic Accident Reconstruction and took place on Wednesday, 20th June 2018
at the London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza, London, WC2E 7BB.

This is the seminar series where the lawyers take a back seat and we invite the experts to address us on issues at the cutting edge of their disciplines which will change the way cases are litigated.

This seminar explored how experts use science and technology to establish the facts and help the Court determine the question of responsibility.
We were delighted to have two RTA expert speakers who provided differing but complementary views on this topic. John Johnstone from Burgoynes, (Consultant – Traffic & Vehicle) has undertaken hundreds of road traffic investigations and specialises in traffic collision reconstruction and traffic collision fraud. Our expert from TRL was Simon Lane, Senior Consultant – Investigations Group, who has extensive experience in the investigation and reconstruction of road deaths.

The seminar was chaired by James Pretsell.

The seminar topics were;

•  Enhancing the utility of CCTV evidence – video photogrammetry in action – John Johnston of Burgoynes looked at a case study of a road traffic collision and analyse the accident using science and technology, piecing it together into a 3D computer reconstruction, illustrating the exact motions of the parties involved

•  There to be seen, or are they? – Simon Lane of TRL investigated incidents involving Large Goods Vehicles and vulnerable road users. The technique used by TRL includes a laser scanner, creation of a 3D model of the collision site, the subject vehicle and accurate identification of the zones of visibility and obstruction from the LGV driver’s perspective.

Please find below recordings of the seminars

Welcome and Introduction by James Pretsell
Enhancing the utility of CCTV evidence – video photogrammetry in action – by John Johnston of Burgoynes
There to be seen, or are they? – by Simon Lane of TRL

Speakers

John Johnston, Burgoynes, Consultant – Traffic & Vehicle, Traffic Collision Fraud

John has been involved in the investigation of road traffic accidents for more than 35 years. In 1989, he joined the Collision Investigation Unit of Hertfordshire Police, where he was continuously engaged in the investigation of road traffic collisions. John joined Burgoynes in 2005 after retiring from the post of Senior Collision Investigator.

John has undertaken hundreds of investigations since joining Burgoynes. His principal areas of work are road traffic collision investigations and reconstructions, including the inspection of vehicles and collision scenes involving pedestrians and all types of vehicles. John regularly attends court to give expert testimony has been accepted as an expert in both civil and criminal courts in the UK and overseas. He has also acted as a Single Joint Expert.

To view full website profile, please click here.

Simon Lane, TRL Transport, Senior Consultant – Investigations Group

Simon is a Senior Consultant in the Investigations Group at TRL, specialising in road accident reconstruction and providing consultancy advice. He is a member of the Institute of the Motor Industry, through which he is recognised as an Advanced Automotive Engineer, a professional Member of the Forensic Science Society and he holds the Licentiateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute in Traffic Accident Investigation.

He served as a Police Officer for 30 years, where he gained twenty five years’ experience dealing with road traffic collisions. He specialised in collision investigation and was a member of the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit for eighteen years.

Simon has considerable experience gained during the investigation and reconstruction of road deaths involving single and multiple casualties. He has reconstructed collisions involving passenger carrying vehicles, large goods vehicles, agricultural vehicles, cars, motorcycles and bicycles, as well as pedestrian fatalities.

He has undertaken specialist training in collision investigation and other associated courses such as vehicle handling and dynamics, vehicle examination, light bulb examination, tachograph analysis (analogue & digital), photography and large goods vehicle air brake systems. He holds driving licence categories which include motorcycle, large goods and passenger carrying vehicles and holds Police class one driving certificates for cars and motorcycles.

To view full website profile, please click here.

James Pretsell

James’s practice consists largely in multi track personal injury work. He also has expertise in professional negligence and disciplinary work having represented individuals before a variety of professional regulatory bodies as well as the Administrative Court. He also practices in the area of employment law.
As a fluent French speaker, James has also developed an interest and practice in cases with a French element and more generally cases involving questions of foreign jurisdiction.

James is ranked in the Legal 500.

‘Excellent attention to detail and identification of the key areas in a case.’  Legal 500, 2017 – Personal Injury
To view full website profile, please click here.