First Day on the Job

First Day on the job

First Day on the Job

Part 1.
You have recently been hired as an investigator for the Wontcofup insurance company. On your first day you are sent to the site of an accident between a small car and a delivery truck. As you arrive, the ambulance is carrying away the driver of the small car who seems conscious but bruised and shaken up. Opening your work file you find your assignment:

Dear new inspector,
At 7:30 am this morning, a driver insured by our company (policy #241-575-374B) smashed into a delivery truck in a small alley linking Peel Street to Metcalfe Street in downtown Montreal. Although the accepted speed limit in the alley is 20km/h, the collision seems rather large. Please determine whether we can apply clause 315-6 to the policy holder. Note that doing this requires a solid body of evidence. Although I don't recall your 1st name, I do recall being told good things about the quality and thoroughness of your work.
Sincerely,
Hugo "the Boss"
P.S.: Since this is your first day, I have joined clause 315-6 to this letter.
Clause 315-6: - The policy will cover the cost of repair for collisions involving the policy holder. In the eventuality where the policy holder is found criminally responsible1, or reckless2 in his or her driving, the insurance company will assume 50% of the repair costs and reserves the right to increase the premium over the following 5 years. In order for the company to pay any amount, the holder agrees to yield access to any medical files related to the accidents.
1The term criminally responsible refers to driving under the influence licit substances such as alcohol, or illicit substances such as heroine or cocaine.
2The term reckless refers to driving without respecting the driving code such as cutting through more than two lanes in less than 100m or driving more than 30km/hr above the prescribed speed limit.

Questions:

1. What in effect is the Boss asking you to do?

2. What does the fine print in clause 315-6 tell you? How does this relate to physics?

3. What physics principles will you be using? Which variables must you look for and which do you already know?

Part 2.
To carry your enquiry, you go through a number of steps such as interviewing eye-witnesses, analyzing the accident scene, accessing the driver's medical file and interviewing the treating physician.

Customer File
Policy Number: / 241-575-374B
Name: / Maria Andretti
Address: / 500 Shumaker Drive,
Montreal, Canada
F1A B4U
Age: / 52 yrs
Driving Experience: / 24 yrs
PreviousClaims: / 1993 - $3,576
1981 - $1,200
Policy
Type: / 2 way insurance, Including:
Fire, Theft, Vandalism (Max $35,000)
Civil Responsibility: / $1,000,000
Deductible: / $500
Insured car: / Honda Accord 2000
Eye Witness Account
"I saw the car coming into the alley. I'm not too sure how fast it was going. The truck backed up from that loading dock and was transversal in the alley. I heard a big BANG! It all happened so fast. It looked like the driver didn't see the truck. I don't even think the car had time to break."
Accident Scene
Right angle collision between the car and the truck.
Front end of car collapsed:
17" (43cm) remaining between front license plate and center of wheel.
Right side of truck slightly dented:
about 2"(5cm) in depth.
No apparent skid marks.
Car Before vs. After Accident
The arrow shows the distance between the front license plate and the center of the wheel after collision
Medical Chart
BP (Blood Pressure): / 105/65
HR (Heart Rate): / 100
Notes: / Ecchymosis on forehead.
Major belt laceration on neck, and chest.
Drug Tox. Screen: / Opiates: Negative
Cocaine: Negative
Alcohol: Negative
Treating ER Physician
Dr: / That seat-belt saved her life. This was a considerable impact.
Inspector: / How could you tell?
Dr: / Well by experience I could tell you that the depth of the wound from the seat belt corresponds to an impact ranging between 20 and 25g.
Inspector: / Wow! 20 to 25 times the gravitational acceleration, that's enormous. How confident are you of this value?
Dr: / Well it certainly is more than 20g and not profound enough for 25g. Well, I have to run now, I'm being paged.
Inspector: / OK. Thank you for your time.

Questions:

1. What new relevant information did you acquire?

2. Do you need more information or can you report back to the boss? If you need new information, how do you propose to get it?