What kind of physical evidence includes damage to roadside objects?

Damage to roadside objects falls under the category of debris. This type of physical evidence refers to any material that is left behind at the scene of a traffic crash, which can include parts of vehicles, scattered contents, and any damage inflicted on nearby objects such as signage, guardrails, light poles, or trees. Observing this damage can provide investigators with significant insights into the dynamics of the crash, including the point of impact, the force exerted during the collision, and the trajectory of vehicles involved.

Debris is crucial for reconstructing the events leading up to the crash and can help in determining liability, as it often indicates the actions of the involved vehicles. In contrast, while tire marks are useful evidence providing information about the braking and turning behaviors of vehicles, they do not encompass the broader physical evidence represented by damage to stationary objects. The final resting place refers to where vehicles come to a stop and control evidence typically pertains to signs or signals that direct or control traffic. Each category serves its purpose in a crash investigation, but in this case, debris best represents the evidence associated with damage to roadside objects.