Accident Reconstruction | Illinois and Midwest

MARS offers a full line of services to accommodate and satisfy everything you need from start to finish, from scene measurements and photographic/drone documentation, from analysis to testimony if needed, from exhibit preparation to full-scale physical experiments, from instrumentation to data analysis.

You won't be faced with the problem of dealing with multiple people, outside contractors and people who aren’t familiar with the data, simulations, calculations, and experimental results that ensure that your project or trial is as fully prepared as possible. Below is a partial list of some of our services.

HVE and Other Simulations

We have complete computer facilities available, including the advanced Human Vehicle Environment suite of programs (Dr. Metz is a consultant and lecturer for Engineering Dynamics Corporation, the makers of HVE). Other simulation and computer facilities include SimuLink, MATLAB, the complete suite of Microsoft products, and many other specialized vehicle dynamics and accident reconstruction programs and products. Dr. Metz has also written numerous individualized simulation programs and speadsheet analyses for clients.

Photography and Imagery

We have extensive experience with all types of photography and videography, and we can create images, videotapes, CDs, DVDs and large-format courtroom exhibits quickly and expertly. Using Photoshop, we can manipulate, format and emphasize images to create professional results. With PhotoModeler, we can map a site to reconstruction accuracy directly from photographs. We use our drone/4K video to perform aerial analyses of accident sites, and employ VBox and Video VBox equipment to produce videos and actual drive data during full-scale driving simulations, events and tests.

Complete Machine Shop

We can make nearly any small- to medium-sized part needed for a passenger or race car, courtroom model or demonstrative aid or exhibit. Metalworking facilities include a Bridgeport vertical milling machine with complete tooling, a South Bend metalworking lathe with complete tooling and a complete woodshop. We can fabricate parts in metal, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber and nearly any other material desired. We can provide you with many examples and ideas for enhancement of engineering principles and trial issues.

Expert Driving

We have extensive racing and high-speed driving experience in passenger cars, race cars and on motorcycles and bicycles. If necessary, Dr. Dan Metz can develop a re-enactment/reconstruction of many accident situations and perform it in the form of a full-scale test. He can also skillfully operate motorcycles and most forms of race cars. With the ability to perform limit-performance driving, Dr. Metz can successfully predict vehicle performance a priori and convincingly testify regarding vehicle dynamics and accident reconstruction.

Instrumented Vehicle Testing

We offer numerous hardware and software packages capable of instrumenting a test vehicle, whether for accident reconstruction or passenger and race application. On-board data acquisition packages, both analog and digital, are available and, if necessary, a custom-designed package can be created for an individual application. We make extensive use of VBOX data acquisition systems to acquire real-time vehicle trajectory data, and can tap a vehicle CAN bus for other data acquisition.

What companies has MARS work for?

At Midwest, we are afforded the opportunity to network and gain valuable experience through client engagement. Midwest Accident Reconstruction Science has worked with over 200 clients worldwide ranging from Fortune 500 firms to non-profits.

Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)

You can observe a lot by watching.

Yogi Berra, baseball Hall of Fame catcher