Expert methods for determining the speed of a vehicle at the moment of collision with a pedestrian: current state of the issue (a review)

Knowing the vehicle’s speed at the moment of collision with a pedestrian is essential for investigators and law enforcement officers to lawfully and accurately interpret the driver’s actions and contributing factors during a traffic accident. However, only a few objective methods for determining vehicle speed are applicable in expert practice. This article examines the current state of this issue based on a review of contemporary Russian and international scientific sources. Existing methods are examined based on their core principle. It is shown that objective assessment of a vehicle’s speed at the moment of impact with a stationary obstacle (a pedestrian) is a complex task that requires the use of several approaches with varying degrees of applicability. Further research is needed into the morphological analysis of the conditions and circumstances of traffic accidents involving a moving vehicle and a stationary pedestrian, taking into account the design features of modern vehicles. This will contribute not only to a more thorough and objective investigation of road traffic accidents, but also to the advancement of forensic medicine.