Without animation, showing the interrelationships of the five vehicles would have been almost impossible. The opposing counsel, having viewed the animation, settled the case before it was presented to the jury. Case Theory Completion One of an animation's greatest benefits is the by-product of comprehensive case theory completion, since all timings, speeds, skids and impacts must be determined prior to completing an animation. For complex cases, such as multiple vehicle collisions, the animation analysis would be almost impossible to replicate with just a calculator. Timing interrelationship of all objects becomes clear and witnesses can critique whether or not the scene corresponds with their memory.
Animation also helps find timing inconsistencies among witnesses.
Case theory completion was critical in winning a product liability case involving a child safety seat. The defense theorized the child's head injuries were caused by contact with either the gear shift knob or radio, rather than with the recessed screw in the top of the child safety seat. The defense counsel funded crash sled tests to support their theory, but these did not account for the time when the vehicle was spinning. Further, it was found the location of the fracture matched the child safety seat screw measurements, showing the defense's expert theories were incomplete. As the attorneys were choosing a jury, the defendants offered a substantial settlement which the plaintiff's attorney believe was prompted by their knowledge of the video animation.