These tips deal with the investigation of sensitive issues such as sexual harassment, however, some concepts would be equally applicable to serious incident investigations as well.

• Do not assume that the allegation is true.
• Do not accept written statements or memoranda as the truth.
• Analyze all statements critically, things that sound like an exaggeration usually are.
• Look for inconsistencies, and issues that the interviewee seems to be avoiding or hints of a hidden agenda.
• People routinely leave details out, sometimes on purpose.
• Reviewing previously prepared memoranda and statements will almost always lead to more questions.

Source: peramerica.com

Run off the Road Crashes

When a vehicle runs off the road and enters a shoulder or median, look for and document the characteristics of the physical evidence at the beginning point where the vehicle ran off the road.

For instance, measure the angle at which the vehicle left the road. Note if tire skid marks, scuffmarks, or furrow marks exist or if the tires were simply rolling on the grass. Note the total length that the vehicle traveled off the road and in what manner it was traveling (i.e. straight forward, yawing, off-tracking, etc.)

If the vehicle re-enters the pavement, note its angle back onto the pavement and how it was traveling. Real world crash evidence indicates that drivers who are avoiding another vehicle and an object on the road will leave the roadway at an abrupt angle (more than 5 degrees); whereas fatigued or drowsy drivers run off the road at gradual angles (1-4 degrees). Fatigued drivers also usually do not attempt evasive action such as braking or steering until after traveling relatively long distances on the shoulder and/or median, and if evasive action is taken, it will usually be of an abrupt or sudden manner.

Source: ruhl.com