Automotive Accidents Expert Witnesses: 20

Mike Napier is a Trucking Expert with more than 40 years experience in the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) industry. He has worked in the real world of trucking and CMV operations, holding positions from Chief Executive Officer to Truck Driver and virtually every position in between. If you are looking for a Trucking Expert who not only knows the written text of the regulations, as is required of any competent Safety Director, but also has hands-on trucking experience of a truck driver and can speak to the issues of how the trucking industry operates from the top down, you have found him! Mr. Napier will equip an attorney with the knowledge that opposing counsel may not have. Mr. Napier’s unique experience differs dramatically from nearly all other commercial or trucking industry experts; in that he has first-hand knowledge and understands a trucking company’s organizational & operational structure and has a firm command of the regulations and the nexus of the industry standards of care. 

Mr. Napier’s diverse experience includes, but is not limited to, the following issues:

Areas of Expertise: Accident analysis, testimony and mediation in vehicle and pedestrian accidents involving transit, paratransit, schoolbus, motorcoach, special education, non-emergency medical transportation, taxi, shuttle, child transport systems and services; slips and falls; crossing, boarding and alighting; wheelchairs; seatbelts; ADA and accessibility; passenger safety, security and sexual abuse; vehicle design, specification, crashworthiness, quality assurance and product liability; industry standards and practices; driver training and vehicle operation; management, monitoring, supervision and enforcement; maintenance; NHTSA, FTA, FMCSA and USDOT regulations; vehicle testing and certification; contract negotiation and compliance; risk management; planning and system design.

The Firm: Transportation Alternatives is a passenger transportation and automotive consortium engaged in consulting and forensic accident investigation and analysis (more than 600 cases). Specializes in elderly, disabled, schoolchildren. 

Education: MURP (Urban and Regional Planning): George Washington University, 1975 BA, English Literature: Rutgers University, 1969 

Professional Experience:

• President, Transportation Alternatives (1980 to present). Consulted to USDOT, transit agencies, private contractors, social service agencies, municipalities and school districts. Designed several major transportation systems
• Chairman/General Manager, PTS Transportation (1982-1992). Directed operations of a 70-vehicle paratransit system for physically and developmentally disabled individuals and a non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) service
• President, TAM-USA (1989-1995). Formed and directed a U.S.-Slovene joint venture company which coordinated the design, testing, certification and marketing of a European-manufactured school bus and motorcoach. 

Appointments and Memberships:

• American Public Transportation Association
• National Association of Pupil Transportation
• United Motorcoach Association
• American Bus Association
• Community Transportation Association of America
• Association Internationale pour la Sécurité du Transport des Jeunes
• National School Transportation Conference (1995, 2000, 2005)
• Committee on School Transportation Safety, National Academy of Sciences
• Bus Industry Safety Committee (ABA)
• Access Committee (APTA)

RWFE Expertise Includes:

Design Evaluation – Accident Investigation – Intellectual Property
Failure Analysis – Fire Cause & Origin – Component Testing
Computer Aided Drafting – Accident Animation
Expert Witness & Litigation Support

Quality Forensic Engineering, LLC is a full-service forensic engineering and accident reconstruction firm, providing engineering support to clients in the areas of collision reconstruction, premises liability, and product liability.  With over 20 years of experience for each of our senior engineers, we utilize the latest technology for documenting evidence and retrieving data including FARO 3D scanning, aerial drone imaging, and black box downloads.  Our forensic engineers are mobile, supporting clients throughout the U.S. Headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida with a satellite office in Jacksonville, Florida, we look forward to serving you.

Dr. Brian Pfeifer, P.E., With over 20 years of experience investigating and testifying in cases involving a variety of forensic engineering issues, Dr. Pfeifer is a leading expert in accident reconstruction, roadside safety, maintenance of traffic, and analysis of mechanical systems, and product failures. Dr. Pfeifer has a strong background in the design, development, and implementation of roadside safety hardware including guardrails, bridge rails, and crash cushions. Over 33 patents have been filed worldwide on behalf of Dr. Pfeifer and associated colleagues who invented safer guardrail systems and terminals, vehicle storage systems, shipping container handling systems, and material handling and storage methods.  Dr. Pfeifer has published numerous papers to various organizations including the Transportation Research Board and Port Technology International, covering topics ranging from new guardrail systems, energy-absorbing guardrail terminals, and breakaway mechanisms incorporated in traffic signs to material handling technology.  Dr. Pfeifer’s expertise has been shared with many organizations such as the Florida Justice Association, Palm Beach County Justice Association, American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and Alabama Defense Lawyers Association with presentations he’s made on topics including vehicle collisions, bicycle accidents, roadway constructions zones, and accident reconstruction expert witness utilization. Dr. Pfeifer is a registered Professional Engineer in three states and stays current with learning new technology in the field of forensic engineering.  He has refined his skills and knowledge of accident reconstruction and roadside safety by taking dozens of continuing education courses over the span of his career. Expertise: Vehicle Collisions Tractor / Trailer Collisions Bicycle Accidents Pedestrian Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Occupant Kinematics Roadside Safety/Guardrails Construction Zones Black Box Analysis Product Failure Analysis Premises Liability Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) evaluation  Restraint System Analysis

Ms. Traci Campbell, P.E., CXLT, Ms. Campbell is an Industrial engineer with specialties in industrial accident reconstruction, including slip, trip, and fall analysis, human and environment interaction, forklifts, applicable standards and guidelines, and workplace-safety issues.  Her expertise also includes vehicular accident reconstruction involving automobiles, trucks, tractor-trailers, and recreational vehicles, as well as, product failure analysis. Expertise: Industrial Accidents Slip / Trip / Fall Retail Facility Safety Human and Environment Interaction OSHA Regulations ADA Regulations ANSI / ASTM / Building Codes Workplace Safety Guarding & Warnings Forklifts and Construction Equipment Theme Parks / Recreation Safety and Facilities Automobile Collisions Tractor / Trailer Collisions Bicycle Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Pedestrian Accidents Occupant Kinematics Airbag and Black Box Analysis Product Design / Failure Analysis General Engineering

Mr. Chris Yates, P.E., Mr. Chris Yates, P.E., is a Mechanical Engineer with specialties in accident reconstruction, including electronic module downloads for both automobile airbag modules and tractor-trailer electronic control modules.  His expertise includes auto accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and other roadway accidents.  His expertise also includes seat belts, occupant kinematics, product failure analysis, and other general engineering issues. Expertise: Automobile Accidents Tractor / Trailer Accidents Bicycle Accidents Pedestrian Accidents Airbag and Automobile Black Box Analysis ECM and Tractor-trailer Black Box Analysis Occupant Kinematics Roadway Safety Product Design / Failure Analysis >General Engineering

Mukul K. Verma, PhD (University of Michigan) brings more than 35 years of engineering & R&D experience to his consulting practice in the areas of vehicle engineering, automotive safety and mechatronics systems design. His experience includes multiple asignments in automobiles’ design and testing at one of the largest vehicle manufacturers the USA. In addition, he has significant R&D experience which led to several advances in automotive engineerin. These include areas such as automatic crash notification systems for post-crash protection, vehicles designs & pedestrians’ safety, airbag & passive protection systems design, motorcycle dynamics, heavy truck rollovers, etc. Also in his role as technical expert, he led international industry-wide teams of experts to successfully develop engineering solutions to urgent problems in traffic safety. 

As a consultant, he has worked with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency on future lighter vehicle designs and their occupants' protection in traffic accidents. He has also provided consultation to overseas government organization and research agency on electric vehicles' functional issues and traffic safety, as well as on test facilities.

Dr Verma has also taught several graduate-level and professional courses at universities in Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering, Intelligent vehicle systems, Structural dynamics analysis and Vehicle Design Integration. He has published more than thirty papers in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences and has been active in professional organizations as invited speaker, session chairman and organizer. He is well-known for his expertise in Vehicle Engineering and Traffic Safety and his interviews and opinions have appeared in US and in international media on several occasions 

Litigation Support – Dr. Verma’s recent litigation-related work has been in two fields-

(a) Product Liability cases related to the performance of automobiles and components in accidents in the area; and (b) Intellectual Property claims related to mechatronics systems in automobiles and the validity / infringement of patents.

 View Dr. Verma's Consulting Profile.

• Truck Accident Investigation
• Advanced Accident Reconstruction
• Human Factors Analysis
• Heavy Truck Vehicle Accident Reconstruction
• Pedestrian Motor Vehicle Accident Reconstruction
• Vehicle Dynamics

• Locus Reports
• Personal Injury Photography Reports

• Interpretation
• Translation
• Witness Statements
• Document sign up service

The experts at Miller Engineering are Ann Arbor-based professional engineers celebrating 30 years of service to University, Government, Insurance, and Industry through research, publications, presentations, and testimony. Miller Engineering has a staff of engineers and experts in the Mechanical, Chemical, Agriculture, Industrial, and Human Factors fields of engineering with specific knowledge in the following areas: 

James M. Miller, PE, PhD – Founder Dr. Miller is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Michigan College of Engineering and a registered professional engineer and consultant with over 30 years of experience as an expert witness. He has served as a consultant to industry and government and is highly qualified to give engineering testimony. Dr. Miller specializes in warnings, labeling and instruction manuals, consumer product design, machine guarding, process safety, fire science, vehicle visibility, tractor egress/ingress, pedestrian and worker slip and fall prevention, recreational vehicles (ATVs, boats, and personal watercraft), compliance with occupational safety and consumer safety standards (OSHA, MSDS, CPSC, ANSI, ASTM, UL, etc.).

Mark R. Lehto, PhD – Co-Founder Dr. Lehto is a Professor of Engineering at Purdue University. He completed his Ph.D. in engineering at the University of Michigan in 1985, where he specialized in Human Factors Engineering, in particular Warnings and Labeling. He has taught courses at Purdue in human and safety factors areas, as well as decision making and artificial intelligence. He has authored numerous professionally-reviewed articles, and he has authored / coauthored internationally-recognized textbooks in the areas of human factors and ergonomics. Dr. Lehto specializes in knowledge engineering, warnings and instructions, structuring expert systems, accident modeling, accident statistical analysis, consumer product safety, boating safety, in-field national surveys of product usage and product information effectiveness.

David R. Clark, PE, PhD – Co-Founder Dr. Clark is an Emeritus Engineering Professor at Kettering University. He was an engineering Ph.D. graduate from the University of Michigan, where he specialized in human factors engineering and system safety analyses. In particular, his earlier degrees in mechanical and electrical areas have given him a special expertise in electrical fire- and explosion-related accidents. Dr. Clark is also published on the topics of warnings and labeling. With considerable in-plant experience at General Motors, he is uniquely qualified to provide student theses and design projects while teaching at Kettering that deal with many types of mechanical and optimization projects. Finally, he has extensive experience working for loss control companies, performing over 150 fire origin and cause investigations in the past few years.

Roy Theophilus Bent, Jr. is a well known and respected expert and consultant in the automotive industry. An IACP Certified Auto Appraiser, Expert Witness, and Field Inspector, Mr. Bent is the seated President of the Bureau of Certified Auto Appraisers, a National Professional Appraisal Credentialing Organization that has trained, tested, and certified over 2,400 students under his leadership in the practices of IACP Certified Auto Appraisals and Litigation assistance. Mr. Bent holds numerous licenses and credentials as an ASE Certified Mechanic, I-Car Collision Specialist, Licensed Auto Appraiser, Insurance Adjuster, Umpire, Mediator, Arbitrator, Classic Car Judge, and Vintage Car Historian. 

KPRC 2 Houston News Interview with Roy Bent on Diminished Value

Litigation Support - Mr. Bent is retained by counsel to provide IACP Certified Third Party Appraisals for most auto related lawsuits. He serves law firms whose clients are involved with dissolution, probate, bankruptcy, and diminution of value, and automobile accidents. Mr. Bent is a contributing author in several peer reviewed journals in auto accident expert witness related theories, case studies, and reports which are used exclusively by other expert witnesses in the field. His services include deposition, arbitration, mediation, and trial testimony when necessary. 

Appraisals for Law Enforcement Agencies - Roy Theophilus Bent, Jr., IACP Certified Auto Appraiser & Expert Witness, is regulary retained by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Attorney General (AG), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Office of Inspector General, and varios Police Departments resumting in criminal convictions and/or exonerations of Defendants for: White-Collar Crimes, Vehicular Homicide Crimes, & Felony Drug Crimes resulting in Federal Criminal Forfeitures, Civil Judicial Forfeitures, Administrative Forfeitures & Seizures. 

Areas of Expertise:

View Houston Auto Appraisers' Consulting Profile.

Christopher Gayner is the CEO of Expert Reconstruction Company and has more than 30 years of professional experience with over 1300 Traffic Accident cases involving Automobiles, Trucks, Buses, Trains, Motorcycles, Bicycles and Pedestrians. Mr. Gayner has testified over 300 times in trials, depositions, mediations and arbitrations. He is ACTAR certified and a Member of the Society of Accident Reconstructionists and the Society of Automotive Engineers. 

Areas of Specialization:

• Accident Reconstruction (Manual and Computer-Aided)
• Human Factors
• Occupant Dynamics
• Bio-Mechanics
• Restraint Systems (Seat Belts & Air Bags)
• Product Defects
• Crashworthiness
• Vehicle & Scene Inspections
• Accident Scene and Vehicle Crush Damage Assessment
• Crash Data Retrieval
• Photographic Documentation and Interpretation
• Expert Witness Testimony

Toxicology

Epidemiology

Industrial Hygiene

Mold

Asbestos

Benzene

Biomedical Engineering

Accident Reconstruction

Electrocution

Building Related Disease

Biomechanics

Bed Bugs

Andrew W. Thomas is the founder of Collision Analytics, an ACTAR certified Motor Vehicle Crash Reconstructionist, and a licensed Illinois Private Investigator. He regularly instructs crash investigation and reconstruction courses throughout the United States and Canada for the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety.  Background Experience - Mr. Thomas has over 14 years of experience as an Illinois law enforcement officer and has attended nearly 1,000 hours of crash investigation and reconstruction training, ranging from pedestrian collisions to accessing and interpreting heavy vehicle event data recorders. Throughout his tenure, he has investigated over 200 major collisions involving all types of vehicles. Litigation Support - Mr. Thomas has worked in the public and private sector investigating numerous personal injury and fatal crashes and has been recognized by courts as an expert witness in crash reconstruction.

He currently leads a team of 7 investigators and 6 reconstructionists responsible for investigating all major crash investigations within unincorporated McHenry County, outside Chicago-land.

Since 2017, Collision Analytics has served clients as a full-service crash investigation and reconstruction company providing expert consultation, analysis, and testimony. Mr. Thomas' services are available to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant.

Serving Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, and Michigan, Collision Analytics has the equipment to retrieve electronic data and the experience to assess its impact on a case. Their services also include survey and drone scene mapping, forensic vehicle examinations, courtroom exhibit preparation, and crash reconstructions including electronic, GPS, and cellular phone data.

Areas of Expertise:

Dr. Jeffrey Buckholz is a practicing design engineer with over 40 years of experience in Traffic Engineering, Traffic Signal Timing, Signal Design and Signal Construction. He is also proficient in Pavement Marking Design, Roadway Signing, and Work Zone Traffic Control. Dr. Buckholz has authored 3 national training manuals in signal design, construction and inspection. He is a PE in 6 states: FL, GA, CA, MA, MI, OH and is a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer. Dr. Buckholz has been chief engineer of his engineering company for 30 years and was an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Florida from 2005 through 2007. He has served as an expert witness in over 220 cases. Past Project Experience:

• Traffic Studies
• Traffic Signal and ITS Design
• Traffic Signal Timing
• Signing and Pavement Marking Design
• Work Zone Traffic Control Design

Barry L. Bookman has approximately 28 years of experience in the Automotive Industry. Working in car dealerships, he started as an apprentice service technician and worked his way up to service Adviser, Service Manager, and Service and Parts Director. Certified as a Journey Level Technician, Mr. Bookman is an ASE Master Technician / Nissan Motors Master Technician. 

Litigation Support - Mr. Bookman currently offers services as a consultant and expert witness to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant. His services include thorough reports, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. 

Areas of Expertise: