Accident documentation system

• US 5,483,442 A
• Filed: 07/12/1994
• Issued: 01/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Investigator Marketing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Investigator Marketing Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Gary, Mowry, David, Black, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Application Number:
  US08/273,724
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 364/400, 364/401, 364/419.19, 364/406, 364/408, 395/153, 395/154, 395/149, 395/161
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 41/00 Fittings for identifying vehicles in case of collision; Fittings for marking or recording collision areas

Abstract

An accident documentation system comprising an accident documentation assembly and a computerized tracking system integrated therewith. The accident documentation assembly comprises a strap fixedly attached to pouch, with a plurality of members coordinated to routinely document an automobile accident. Slidably attached to this strap through an elongated slot is a substrate upon which is imprinted documentation-directing indicia. The accident documentation assembly includes a camera for visually recording the accident scene and continuous-feed pen and a marker for recording the accident scene on predefined forms and involved pavement, as appropriate. Also included in this assembly is a flashlight for securing the accident scene at night or under exigent conditions characterized by smoke and the like. To avoid flashlight and camera from malfunctioning because of battery and film expiration problems, a computerized tracking system is provided for calculating expected longevity of batteries and film, and then generating, in turn, a replacement warning and a notice to promote proper operation of such flashlight and camera.

Claims

1. An accident documentation system having a unique identification number, for use by a person who is either an accident victim or a bystander, said accident documentation system comprising:

an accident documentation assembly having a pliable strap means and a plurality of retaining means fixedly attached to said pliable strap means, and configured to be releasably received by said person'"'"'s neck without inhibiting use of either arms or hands thereof;

substrate means having slot means configured to slidably receive said strap means;

said substrate means comprising first indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident disposed on one side of said substrate means in an overlapping relationship therewith and second indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident disposed on another opposite side of said substrate means in an overlapping relationship therewith;

said slot means configured to expose said first indicia means and second indicia means, respectively, by suitably twisting said substrate means to render either of said first indicia means or second indicia means readable to said person;

marker means releasably attached to one of said plurality of retaining means, for depicting relationship between a plurality of automobiles involved in said accident scene;

writing means releasably attached to one of said plurality of retaining means, for verbally recording said accident scene on a plurality of accident information form means releasably attached to a clipboard means;

illumination means releasably attached to at least one of said plurality of retaining means, for providing illumination at said accident scene; and

camera means releasably attached to at least one of said plurality of retaining means, for visually recording an accident scene;

said camera means having a plurality of additional indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident and for recording estimated replacement dates for said camera means and said illumination means, disposed on a corresponding plurality of surfaces contained upon said camera means and further disposed in an overlapping relationship therewith; and

computerized tracking means based upon said identification number for monitoring service time of said camera means and said illumination means and for notifying said person when to replace said camera means and said illumination means.

2. The accident documentation system recited in claim 1, wherein said first indicia means comprises checklist means including directions for coordinating use of said camera means, said writing means and said marker means at said accident scene.

3. The accident documentation system recited in claim 2, wherein said second indicia means comprises checklist means including directions for coordinating use of said camera means, said writing means and said marker means at said accident scene.

4. The accident documentation system recited in claim 3, wherein said plurality of additional indicia means comprises at least said checklist means comprising said first indicia means and said second indicia means.

5. The accident documentation system recited in claim 1, wherein said slot means is elongated in a rectangular configuration proximal and parallel to an edge of said substrate means.

6. The accident documentation system recited in claim 1, wherein said pliable strap means comprises a reflective material.

7. The accident documentation system recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of retaining means comprises a reflective material.

8. The accident documentation system recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of retaining means comprises a plurality of pouch means.

9. The accident documentation system recited in claim 1, wherein said clipboard means is releasably attached to one of said plurality of retaining means.

10. An accident documentation system having a unique identification number, for use by a person who is either an accident victim or a bystander, said accident documentation system comprising:

an accident documentation assembly having a pliable strap means comprising a reflective material and a plurality of retaining means comprising a reflective material and fixedly attached to said pliable strap means, and configured to be releasably received by said person'"'"'s neck without inhibiting use of either arms or hands thereof;

substrate means having an elongated slot means proximal and parallel to an edge thereof and configured to slidably receive said strap means;

said substrate means comprising first indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident disposed on one side of said substrate means in an overlapping relationship therewith and second indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident disposed on another opposite side of said substrate means in an overlapping relationship therewith;

said slot means configured to expose said first indicia means and second indicia means, respectively, by suitably twisting said substrate means to render either of said first indicia means or second indicia means readable to said person;

marker means releasably attached to one of said plurality of retaining means, for depicting relationship between a plurality of automobiles involved in said accident scene;

writing means releasably attached to one of said plurality of retaining means, for verbally recording said accident scene on a plurality of accident information form means releasably attached to a clipboard means;

illumination means releasably attached to at least one of said plurality of retaining means, for providing illumination at said accident scene; and

camera means releasably attached to at least one of said plurality of retaining means, for visually recording an accident scene;

said camera means having a plurality of additional indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident and for recording estimated replacement dates for said camera means and said illumination means, disposed on a corresponding plurality of surfaces contained upon said camera means and further disposed in an overlapping relationship therewith; and

computerized tracking means based upon said identification number for monitoring service time of said camera means and said illumination means and for notifying said person when to replace said camera means and said illumination means.

11. The accident documentation system recited in claim 10, wherein said first indicia means comprises checklist means including directions for coordinating use of said camera means, said writing means and said marker means at said accident scene.

12. The accident documentation system recited in claim 11, wherein said second indicia means comprises checklist means including directions for coordinating use of said camera means, said writing means and said marker means at said accident scene.

13. The accident documentation system recited in claim 12, wherein said plurality of additional indicia means comprises at least said checklist means comprising said first indicia means and said second indicia means.

14. The accident documentation system recited in claim 10, wherein said clipboard means is releasably attached to one of said plurality of retaining means.

15. An accident documentation system having a unique identification number, for use by a person who is either an accident victim or a bystander, said accident documentation system comprising:

an accident documentation assembly having a pliable strap means comprising a reflective material and a retaining means comprising a reflective material and fixedly attached to said pliable strap means, and configured to be releasably received by said person'"'"'s neck without inhibiting use of either arms or hands thereof;

substrate means having an elongated slot means proximal and parallel to an edge thereof and configured to slidably receive said strap means;

said substrate means comprising first indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident disposed on one side of said substrate means in an overlapping relationship therewith and second indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident disposed on another opposite side of said substrate means in an overlapping relationship therewith;

said slot means configured to expose said first indicia means and second indicia means, respectively, by suitably twisting said substrate means to render either of said first indicia means or second indicia means readable to said person;

marker means releasably attached to said retaining means, for depicting relationship between a plurality of automobiles involved in said accident scene;

writing means releasably attached to said retaining means, for verbally recording said accident scene on a plurality of accident information form means releasably attached to a clipboard means;

illumination means releasably attached to said retaining means, for providing illumination at said accident scene; and

camera means releasably attached to said retaining means, for visually recording an accident scene;

said camera means having a plurality of additional indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident and for recording estimated replacement dates for said camera means and said illumination means, disposed on a corresponding plurality of surfaces contained upon said camera means and further disposed in an overlapping relationship therewith; and

computerized tracking means based upon said identification number for monitoring service time of said camera means and said illumination means and for notifying said person when to replace said camera means and said illumination means.

16. The accident documentation system recited in claim 15, wherein said first indicia means comprises checklist means including directions for coordinating use of said camera means, said writing means and said marker means at said accident scene.

17. The accident documentation system recited in claim 16, wherein said second indicia means comprises checklist means including directions for coordinating use of said camera means, said writing means and said marker means at said accident scene.

18. The accident documentation system recited in claim 17, wherein said plurality of additional indicia means comprises at least said checklist means comprising said first indicia means and said second indicia means.

19. The accident documentation system recited in claim 15, wherein said clipboard means is releasably attached to said retaining means.