by 
The Curious Bag
-
Unfortunately, thousands of accidents happen every day. At the core of most of these accidents is the failure of something--a person, a product or an area--to work or react properly. Accident investigations include research and interviews that determine why the accidents happened and how they might be prevented.
Complexity
Many accidents are complex because they are comprised of a set of events--also referred to as incidents--that negatively affect the completion of a task or outcome.
Types
Categories of accidents include: product liability; vehicular accidents; third-party liability; construction site accidents; animal-involved accidents; maritime accidents; and many more. These categories can also have sub-categories. For example, vehicular accidents include motorcycle accidents.
Procedures
Basic investigative procedures include: defining events that led to the accident; interviewing victims and/or witnesses; preparing photographs and sketches; and preparing reports. Investigators also apply different procedures depending on the type of accident. For example, an investigator will research an animal's history of violence in an animal-attack case.
Interviews
Most accident investigations include interviews with witnesses, victims, experts, those in authority, manufacturers, and others in the chain of liability. A knowledgeable investigator practices both interview and interrogation techniques.
Reports
An accident investigator completes the investigation with a summary report that includes: background on the accident, including location, participants and witnesses; an account of the occurrence, such as events and damage; an accident analysis, detailing direct and indirect causes; and recommendations to prevent a recurrence.
Source:
Net-Trace: Accident Investigation & Reconstruction
More Information:
United States Department of Labor: Conducting Accident Investigations
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC