It all comes down to the people you are trying to influence and how their minds work. We live in an age where we are constantly bombarded by information every day of the week. If you are presenting complex or detailed information to your audience solely in verbal form, studies show that your audience just has a 15% - 25% chance of retaining that information over a short time period (source: Rand Corporation). However, if your verbal message is reinforced with visual media, retention and comprehension rates jump to as high as 55% - 70% during the same time period.

In addition, your audience (such as a juror) is able to view the events that happened as they occurred, rather than trying to formulate an abstract depiction in his or her mind--this is especially true for events that are elaborate or complex in nature. The sequence of events from cause to effect can be experienced as they happened, thus minimizing the possibility of confusion. As your presentation is viewed by your audience, you can more accurately gauge their understanding of your side of the story.

As more time goes by, you will. The use of forensic animation has actually been around for about 15 years. In the past, the technology was cost-prohibitive due to software and hardware limitations. Fortunately, these costs have been brought down with advances in computer technology, thus making forensic animation much more affordable and practical to professionals like yourself.

Courtrooms of the 21st century will demand greater avenues of demonstration--if you don't use them, your adversaries will!

These types of visual aids are good for supplementing your verbal arguments, however, they cannot aid the juror in experiencing the course of events as they occurred. Static media doesn't have the flexibility and impact as dynamic media--it is like showing someone a photograph of an accident, instead of showing them a video as it happened. As far as graphs are concerned, most people don't use graphs in their day-today life experience, so abstract information has a chance of being misconstrued in the jurors' minds.

Jurors can experience the event as it happened from multiple points of view, different angles and different speeds. Also, jurors can view alternate scenarios as they happen by adjusting different variables (i.e. adjusting the speed of impact of two automobiles from 75 mph to 55 mph). Such flexibility, coupled with the precision of the technology, allows your audience to view a situation from as many options as possible. You are strengthening your case by giving your jurors the tools to make the right decision.

Very. As we stated earlier, the technology and use has been around for quite some time now. It has been only until recently that courtrooms are being exposed to more and more of this type of demonstrative evidence.

As with other types of evidence, your use of forensic animation should adhere to federal and state rules of evidence. This will not be a problem as long as your planning and production process falls in line with such admissibility issues. It is our job to assist you in adhering to these rules to ensure the admissibility of your project. The success of your project will also depend on the data that is supplied and the credibility of your expert witness that will work in conjunction with us on the project.

Far less than you would think. A few years ago, typical animations would cost upwards of $50,000 for a few seconds of animation. Due to advances and efficiencies in technology and production process, costs are now a fraction of what they once were.

Variables such as level of detail, animation length, special effects, turnaround time, and complexity, can factor into the final cost of an animation.

 Contact us to discuss your next case, and we can assist you in using this powerful tool, while at the same time fitting comfortably within your budget. You will find that the cost of using animation will represent a small portion of the total cost of your case.