Accident Terms and Definitions

Aggressive Drivers (road rage)
Can be describes as: aggressive tailgating,Lights flashed at them because the other motorist was annoyed, aggressive or rude gestures,deliberate obstruction -- preventing them from moving their vehicle,verbal abuse,physical assault and other actions.

Breakover Angle
when a vehicle crests a hill, it's the angle at which the front tires still remain on the ground as the rear wheels continue to climb (see High Centered)

Brake failure
Brake failure can happen. Drum brakes are more commen to fail. Modern dual-circuit brake systems have made total brake failure an unlikely event. If one side of the circuit fails, the other side is usually sufficient to stop a vehicle.

Reaction Time
The motorist who is not alert cannot cope with a sudden emergency as quickly as is necessary. An overly relaxed driver requires more time to react to an emergency than does an alert one.

Choice no fault
In some state a hybrid no fault system known as " choice no fault " exists. In these states, you may choose to be insured under a strict no-fault plan, in which case you're unable to sue an at fault driver and also can't be sued if you're at fault.

Subpoena
Document issued by the authority of the court to compel a witness to appear and give testimony or produce documentary evidence in a proceeding. Failure to appear or produce is punishable by contempt of court.

Interrogatories
Written questions developed by one party's attorney for the opposing party.

Collision Scrub
Occurs during a traffic collision when the downward and rotating forces cause a smearing of tire material on the road surface.

Advanced Frontal Airbags
Advanced frontal air bags are designed to meet the needs of the occupant in a variety of specific crash situations. Depending on design, advanced frontal air bag systems automatically determine if and with what level of power the driver frontal air bag and the passenger frontal air bag will inflate.

Excessive speed & Speeding
Speeding is defined as travelling faster than the posted speed limit, or travelling too fast for the road conditions even at speeds under the posted limit.