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The CRASH3 damage algorithm is widely accepted as being reasonably accurate in the field of accident reconstruction, however there has been very little objective validation studies completed. The basis of the algorithm is Newton’s Third Law of Motion which in essence states that forces between interacting bodies are equal in magnitude, opposite in direction and collinear. Therefore, the forces should be theoretically equal and opposite when applying the damage algorithm. By applying the force balance method in determination of crush stiffness coefficients, the CRASH3 algorithm is forced to comply with its own derivation and should produce the most accurate result possible for the provided input. The purpose of this paper is to examine the results of the application of the force balance method in determination of stiffness coefficients (and therefore is ΔV) in real car-car tests and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards side-impact tests (FMVSS 214).