CAREERS: ACCIDENT INVESTIGATORS ARE IN DEMAND

ABOVE: Accident investigators are in demand

18th February 2010

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ROAD traffic accidents happen all the time, but when it comes to the insurance claims, things are not always what they seem.

There has been a big increase in the number of fraudulent claims in recent years.

But it's not just motorists who try it on. The number of fraudulent claims involving work-related injuries has also gone up.

All of which has led to a growing demand for accident investigation experts whose job is to help establish the facts.

Road traffic accident investigators, who may be working on behalf of an insurance company or a firm of solicitors, or in some cases the police, piece together the events that led up to the accident in an attempt to establish exactly what happened.

The work involves taking witness statements, making a detailed examination of the accident scene and the vehicles that were involved, and even producing computerised reconstructions of the accident to establish vehicle position and speed.

The information is then used to produce an accident report that may be used in court as part of an expert witness testimony.

Anyone planning to move into this line of work will need to have good problem-solving and communication skills, an eye for detail and an inquiring mind.

There are a number of courses, including a distance learning course run by Ai Training Services (AiTS), based in South Cerney, Gloucestershire.

The course leads to a collision investigation certificate awarded by the De Montfort University in Leicester.

Candidates should have studied mathematics and physics to GCSE level or equivalent.

The nine-month course includes one week spent at the AiTS centre.

Training may also be provided by the employer through an independent training provider.

These programmes should be approved by the Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators or other recognised body.

Istitute of Traffic Accident Investigators: www.itai.org
Ai Training Services: www.aitsuk.com