Retired Homicide Detective. Retired Traffic Homicide Investigator. Accident Reconstruction Expert. Trial Attorney.
Not every motor vehicle accident is the same.
A minor fender-bender in a parking lot is investigated differently than a fatal collision involving a commercial truck, a motorcycle fatality, or a crash resulting in catastrophic injuries.
Serious crashes demand serious investigations.
When lives have been permanently changed or lost, determining exactly what happened becomes critically important.
Evidence must be preserved.
Witnesses must be located.
Electronic data must be secured.
Physical evidence must be documented.
Questions must be answered.
At the Law Offices of Patrick J. McGeehan, P.A., we approach serious injury and wrongful death cases differently.
Before becoming a lawyer, Patrick served as a traffic homicide investigator, accident reconstructionist, police instructor, and homicide detective. He spent years investigating fatal crashes, serious bodily injury collisions, and death cases before entering private practice.
Today, he uses that experience to help accident victims and families uncover the facts and pursue accountability.
Why Serious Crash Investigations Matter
Insurance companies often begin investigating serious crashes immediately.
Commercial trucking companies frequently dispatch investigators and experts to collision scenes within hours.
Critical evidence may begin disappearing almost immediately.
Examples include:
- Skid marks fading
- Vehicles being repaired
- Witnesses becoming unavailable
- Surveillance footage being overwritten
- Electronic data being lost
A delayed investigation can permanently affect the ability to determine what happened.
The sooner evidence is preserved, the stronger the opportunity to establish liability and protect a claim.
Not Every Police Investigation Tells The Whole Story
Many people assume that the police report tells the entire story.
Unfortunately, that is not always true.
Police officers responding to crashes often work under difficult circumstances.
They may have limited information.
They may arrive after evidence has been disturbed.
They may be unable to locate all witnesses.
They may not have access to electronic data that becomes available later.
As a result, important details can sometimes be missed.
A thorough independent investigation often uncovers information not included in the original police report.
What Is A Serious Crash Investigation?
A serious crash investigation involves a comprehensive analysis of all available evidence to determine:
- How the collision occurred
- Why the collision occurred
- Who was responsible
- Whether the crash could have been avoided
- What evidence supports those conclusions
Depending on the circumstances, the investigation may include:
- Accident reconstruction
- Vehicle inspections
- Scene analysis
- Witness interviews
- Black box downloads
- Commercial trucking records
- Cell phone analysis
- Toxicology evidence
- Surveillance footage review
Every case presents unique challenges and opportunities.
A Background Few Attorneys Can Match
Many lawyers hire experts to explain crash investigations.
Patrick conducted those investigations himself.
Before becoming a lawyer, he spent years investigating:
- Traffic fatalities
- DUI-related deaths
- Pedestrian fatalities
- Motorcycle fatalities
- Commercial vehicle crashes
- Catastrophic injury accidents
His responsibilities included:
- Crash scene analysis
- Vehicle examinations
- Witness interviews
- Evidence collection
- Accident reconstruction
- Court testimony
Most attorneys learn about serious crash investigations from reports prepared by others.
Patrick prepared the reports.
That experience provides valuable insight when evaluating complex injury and wrongful death cases.
Accident Reconstruction
Accident reconstruction is often one of the most important components of a serious crash investigation.
Using engineering principles, physics, vehicle dynamics, roadway evidence, and electronic data, reconstruction can help answer questions such as:
- How fast was each vehicle traveling?
- Where did impact occur?
- Did braking occur?
- Could the collision have been avoided?
- Did driver actions contribute?
Accident reconstruction frequently becomes critical when liability is disputed.
Related Page:
Accident Reconstruction Lawyer
Fatal Crash Investigation
Fatal crashes often require significantly more investigation than ordinary traffic accidents.
These investigations may involve:
- Scene mapping
- Vehicle inspections
- Speed analysis
- Toxicology evidence
- Witness interviews
- Electronic evidence
- Event data recorders
Determining the cause of a fatal collision often becomes central to both civil and criminal proceedings.
Related Page:
Fatal Crash Investigation
Commercial Truck Accident Investigation
Truck accident cases frequently involve unique evidence that does not exist in ordinary automobile collisions.
Potential evidence includes:
- Driver logs
- Electronic logging devices
- Hours-of-service records
- Maintenance records
- Dispatch communications
- GPS data
Commercial trucking companies often begin protecting themselves immediately after a crash.
Victims deserve representation that understands how to investigate these cases.
Related Page:
Commercial Truck Accident Investigation
Black Box Evidence
Modern vehicles frequently contain electronic recording systems capable of capturing valuable information.
Depending upon the vehicle, available data may include:
- Vehicle speed
- Brake application
- Steering inputs
- Throttle position
- Seatbelt use
- Engine performance
Commercial trucks may contain even more extensive electronic records.
This evidence often plays a major role in determining liability.
Related Page:
Black Box Evidence
Motorcycle Crash Investigations
Motorcycle crashes often involve unique challenges.
Drivers frequently claim:
“I never saw the motorcycle.”
Insurance companies often assume the rider was speeding or behaving recklessly.
Neither assumption should replace a proper investigation.
Motorcycle cases often require detailed analysis of:
- Visibility
- Perception and reaction times
- Vehicle movements
- Impact dynamics
Proper investigation is frequently essential.
Wrongful Death Investigations
When a collision results in death, surviving family members deserve answers.
Questions often include:
- What caused the crash?
- Could it have been prevented?
- Who was responsible?
- What evidence exists?
These questions deserve thorough investigation.
Patrick’s background as both a homicide detective and traffic homicide investigator provides valuable experience when evaluating fatal accident cases.
Common Causes Of Serious Crashes
Serious injury and fatal accidents frequently involve:
Distracted Driving
Cell phones and electronic devices continue to contribute to serious collisions.
Drunk Driving
Alcohol-related crashes remain a leading cause of preventable deaths.
Drug-Impaired Driving
Both legal and illegal substances can impair driving abilities.
Speeding
Higher speeds increase both crash risk and injury severity.
Driver Fatigue
Fatigued drivers often experience reduced reaction times and poor decision-making.
Commercial Truck Negligence
Trucking regulations exist for a reason.
Violations can produce devastating consequences.
Why Early Investigation Matters
The strongest evidence is often available immediately after a collision.
As time passes:
- Witnesses move away.
- Vehicles are repaired.
- Physical evidence disappears.
- Electronic data may be overwritten.
- Memories fade.
Prompt investigation can preserve critical evidence that may later determine the outcome of a claim.
Why Clients Choose Patrick J. McGeehan
Many attorneys handle personal injury cases.
Few have spent years investigating fatal crashes before becoming lawyers.
Patrick’s background includes:
- Retired Homicide Detective
- Retired Traffic Homicide Investigator
- Accident Reconstructionist
- Court-Certified Expert Witness
- Police Instructor
- Trial Attorney
This combination of investigative and legal experience provides a unique perspective when evaluating serious injury and wrongful death claims.
A Career Dedicated To Finding Answers
Every serious crash raises important questions.
What happened?
Why did it happen?
Who was responsible?
What evidence exists?
Patrick has spent decades answering those questions.
As a traffic homicide investigator, accident reconstructionist, homicide detective, and trial attorney, he has devoted his career to uncovering facts and determining the truth.
That same commitment guides every serious crash investigation today.
Contact The Law Offices Of Patrick J. McGeehan, P.A.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle collision, do not assume the insurance company’s investigation tells the entire story.
The facts matter.
The evidence matters.
The investigation matters.
Contact the Law Offices of Patrick J. McGeehan, P.A. today to learn how a thorough serious crash investigation may help protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Resources:
Leaving the Scene of an Accident With a Death
Fatal Crash Investigations in Florida