Think of vehicle crash reconstructionists as the CSI stars of the traffic world. Most of the time, crashes are simple to figure out because drivers either admit their mistakes or witnesses help put together what happened. Occasionally, however, there are mysteries to be solved—and that’s where professional law enforcement crash reconstructionists come in.

In Virginia, about 120,000 crashes occur annually—including about 700 fatal crashes. Crashes in which drivers disagree, people leave the scene, or there are no survivors require reconstructionists to determine what happened so law enforcement and insurance companies can take appropriate next steps.

Reconstructing a crash is all about science—plus a healthy dose of math. Investigators survey and measure skid marks and inspect impact damage on vehicles and around the crash scene. They evaluate a vehicle’s data recorder to discover revealing details about things like airgbags, speed, roll rate, and usage of seat belts. And they diagram site details like skid marks, vehicle positioning, angles of impact, and road conditions.

If you’ve been in a crash, after addressing any injuries and calling 911 for medial assistance if necessary, it’s important to file a report with police—even for minor accidents—and don’t leave the scene until it’s complete. Then contact your Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance agent, from the scene if you can. Your agent can help make sure you’re getting the information you need, and can work with you to quickly start processing any claims.