The Forensic expert kollegium conducts all types of automotive technical expertise in both judicial and pre-trial proceedings.

One of the subtypes of automotive technical expertise is the technical condition of vehicle parts and components expertise.

To provide an understanding of the capabilities of this subtype of automotive technical expertise and to explain its scope, a brief description of the examination tasks and the most typical questions resolved during the expertise (subject to the availability of the necessary source data and the proper condition of the objects under examination) is provided below.

The growth of motorization worldwide is accompanied by the continuous improvement, increasing complexity, and rising cost of vehicles, as well as higher requirements for their maintenance and repair. For various reasons, the quality of vehicle manufacturing, the quality of parts used for repairs, and the level of vehicle servicing may not always comply with the requirements of legislation and technical regulatory documentation. This gives rise to disputes between sellers and buyers (vehicles, spare parts, etc.) and between service providers and customers (maintenance/repair services, insurance services, etc.), often involving significant financial interests. Therefore, this type of automotive technical expertise is frequently one of the most important forms of evidence in disputes concerning the quality of goods or services provided. Such examinations are also indispensable in the investigation of road traffic accidents (hereinafter referred to as “RTAs”) involving vehicle defects that affect road safety.

The objects of this type of automotive technical expertise are:

• vehicles, their parts, assemblies, mechanisms, and fragments;
• data contained in the materials submitted for examination that do not require legal assessment.

The subject matter of the technical condition of vehicle parts and components expertise consists of factual data concerning:

• the technical condition of a vehicle;
• the circumstances that led to an RTA or to a vehicle malfunction.

As implied by its name, the technical condition of vehicle parts and components expertise addresses the following tasks:

• Determination of the technical condition of a vehicle and its individual assemblies, mechanisms, systems, and units.
• Determination of the causes and time of occurrence of a malfunction.
• Determination of causal relationships between a malfunction and an RTA, or between repair/maintenance work and a malfunction.

The following questions may be submitted for resolution within the framework of an examination of the technical condition of vehicle parts and components:

• Is the vehicle (mechanism, assembly, component, part) currently, or was it at a specific point in time, in proper working condition? If not, what is the nature of the malfunction (defect), and when did it occur? Is the malfunction of manufacturing origin or the result of operation?
• Was the repair (maintenance) of the vehicle (assembly, unit) performed properly and in the declared scope?
• What is the cause of the destruction (failure, malfunction, defect) of the vehicle part (assembly, unit)?
• Does the part (assembly, unit) comply with the requirements established by the manufacturer of the vehicle of the respective make/model/modification?

The above list and wording of questions are indicative. In each specific case, they may be expanded and detailed as necessary in proportion to the tasks involved in resolving a particular situation. Therefore, in order to clarify the questions and avoid situations in which it would be impossible to provide answers, a preliminary consultation is generally required. During such a consultation, the available materials and documents are preliminarily reviewed, and recommendations are provided regarding the submission of additional information or other objects for expertise.

Examinations of the condition of vehicle parts and components at the Forensic expert kollegium are conducted using various methods (organoleptic, measurement-based, calculation-based, expert assessment methods, etc.), which are selected individually by the expert according to the specific examination task and the questions submitted for resolution.

You can consult on the technical condition of vehicle parts and components expertise at the Forensic expert kollegium at: Minsk, Zhukovskaga St., 11A, 4th floor

or by phone +375 (17) 317 04 71; +375 (17) 317 04 72; +375 (17) 317 04 73; +375 (17) 317 04 74; +375 (17) 317 04 75; +375 (17) 317 04 76; +375 (44) 588 60 11

© S. Kirshankou