ARTICLES

7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Premises Liability

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

Places of business, residences, parking and recreational areas contain potential accident sources such as slippery floors and stairs, product displays, automatic doors, ledges, railings, elevators, escalators and other hazardous items. To prevent such items from causing injury to the public, premises owners and their agents have a responsibility to recognize unsafe conditions and exercise reasonable care to maintain or make conditions safe, or warn the public of the risks involved.

7/22/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Lighting & Visibility

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

A person’s interaction with his environment comes largely from visual cues. Without this information, a pedestrian can trip over an unseen object or a driver might not detect a dangerous situation. In order to avoid these hazards, a person requires adequate lighting and should be provided with appropriate illumination for a given task.

7/22/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Vehicle Accident Reconstruction

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

Motor vehicle accidents are the most common type of incidents producing injury in the US. The main issues in litigating automotive accidents involve vehicle speeds, seatbelt usage, airbag deployment, vehicle component failure (e.g. steering, braking), roadway design, occupant biomechanics, rollover, visibility, etc.

7/22/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Whiplash

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

A car is stopped for a light when it is unexpectedly rear-ended causing little or no damage to either vehicle. Nevertheless, the passengers of the struck vehicle complain of neck, shoulder and back pain. Insurance claim representatives, attorneys, medical, engineering and biomedical experts are then brought in and various conflicting allegations, testimony and opinions are expressed.

7/22/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Trucks

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

Heavy trucks, whether tractor-trailers, construction vehicles or garbage haulers, are involved in many serious traffic accidents due to their large weight, high centers of gravity, decreased visibility, poor handling and reduced braking efficiency. In addition, articulated tractor-trailers are subject to additional problems such as jack-knife and trailer sway instabilities.

7/22/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Warnings

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

A warning must inform individuals of a danger, which would not be obvious to them. It must tell them how to avoid the danger, and be easily understood. It should also provide them with the consequences of not heading the warning.

7/21/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Forensic Engineering Experts: Pedestrians & Bicycles

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

Pedestrian and bicycle accidents in the United States result in approximately 80,000 and 50,000 injuries each year, respectively. Though pedestrians and bicycles move differently, they share important characteristics as both have little protection during a roadway collision with a motor vehicle.

7/15/2009· Marketing

Effectively Using PR To Turn Up The Volume On Your Brand

By: Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR

The greatest sin in the public relations realm is the sin of doing absolutely nothing and then wondering why the media isn’t paying attention to you (or, in the case of a crisis, are eating you alive). As a business owner or manager, you can arm yourself with a copy of Full Frontal PR or Public Relations For Dummies and engage in "do it yourself" PR or you can contract with a PR consulting firm to assist you in the adventure. Whatever the case, it’s up to you to make use of proven PR tactics to help build awareness and credibility for your brand.

7/14/2009· Forensic Analysis

Stepladder Instability Testing

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

According to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) accident estimates, tens of thousands of stepladder accidents requiring emergency room treatment occurred annually in the United States. Approximately 85-90% of these accidents involve the user falling from the ladder and 8-9% of these injuries are serious enough to require that the victim be admitted to a hospital. In addition to posing a severe health concern, these accidents have significant loss-of-wages and high medical expense implications.

7/14/2009· Forensic Analysis

Automobile Braking

By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE

Accident reconstructionists are often called on to determine the distance that a car, covers while being braked to a stop. Conversely, the reconstructionist may be given information as to the length of the skidmarks left by a car on the roadway, and may be asked to determine how fast the car must have been going at the beginning of the skid. An expert can accomplish this with considerable accuracy, based on a knowledge of the physical principles that are involved, plus available information relating to the friction of tires on various types of road surfaces.