A method of estimating where people or vehicles were, and when, during an event.

"Time" means the sequence and duration of movements: when a driver perceived a hazard, how long reaction time took, when braking began, and how many seconds passed before impact. "Distance" means how far each vehicle, pedestrian, or object traveled during those intervals. "Analysis" means using measurements, physics, road conditions, video, electronic data, and witness accounts to test whether a claimed version of events fits the known facts.

In crash cases, this method helps answer practical questions: Could a driver have stopped in time? Was a vehicle speeding? Did a lane change happen before or after a hazard became visible? The numbers can support or undermine statements about negligence, causation, and comparative fault. A small change in assumed speed, visibility, or reaction time can materially change the conclusion.

For Nebraska claims, conditions often matter as much as math. Strong crosswinds on open highways, including I-80, can affect vehicle path and stopping distance, especially for semis. Flood-damaged roads or detours like those seen during the 2019 bomb cyclone can also alter travel time, sight lines, and surface friction. In an injury claim, a sound time-distance analysis may strengthen accident reconstruction evidence; a weak one can be challenged for ignoring weather, road conditions, or unreliable assumptions.