Vehicular Failure Analysis Expert Witnesses: 7

Rapperport Associates, Inc., provides exceptional capability in Failure Analysis, Fire and Explosion Investigation, Accident Reconstruction, Structural Analysis, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials Science. We have provided superior technical support for litigation since 1974, and possess an extraordinarily talented technical team with impeccable academic and industrial credentials and proven analysis capability. Our team of distinguished scientists and engineers is drawn principally from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) and Stanford University. 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Engineering

• Mechanical
• Structural / Civil
• Metallurgy
• Materials Science
• Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Electrical

Quality Forensic Engineering, LLC is a full-service forensic engineering firm, providing engineering support to clients in the areas of accident 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. We are headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida with remote locations in Jacksonville, Florida and Tucson, Arizona.

Dr. Brian Pfeifer, P.E. - Dr. Pfeifer has over 25 years of experience investigating and testifying in cases involving a variety of forensic engineering issues. He is a leading expert in accident reconstruction, roadside safety, maintenance of traffic, commercial vehicle accidents, and the 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, vehicle storage systems, shipping container handling systems, and material handling and storage methods. He has utilized his technical knowledge and understanding of patents to assist in a number of matters involving patent litigation.

Dr. Pfeifer has published numerous papers to various organizations, covering topics such as new guardrail systems, energy absorbing guardrail terminals, breakaway sign mechanisms, and material handling technology. He has shared his expertise with many organizations on topics including vehicle collisions, bicycle accidents, roadway construction zones, and accident reconstruction expert witness utilization. Dr. Pfeifer is a registered Professional Engineer in three states and he continues to refine his skills and knowledge of accident reconstruction and roadside safety by staying current with new technology and best practices.

Expertise:

Ms. Traci Campbell, P.E., CXLT - Ms. Campbell has over 20 years of experience investigating, analyzing, and testifying in matters involving a variety of forensic engineering issues. She is a leading expert in industrial accident reconstruction and human factors; slip, trip, stumble and fall analysis; application of standards, codes, and guidelines including OSHA, ANSI, ASTM, Life Safety, ADA and Building Codes; workplace safety related issues; forklift and material handling devices; construction machinery and workplaces; manufacturing equipment; and the analysis of workplace systems and product failures. Ms. Campbell has a strong background working in manufacturing and industrial workplaces including the design, development, and implementation of solutions to ensure safe work environments. She has also been credited as part of a team holding a patent related to safeguarding power hand tools with rotating discs. Her special interests include amusement park and theme park accidents and safety related issues. Ms. Campbell is also a CXLT - Certified XL Tribometrist (slip index evaluation) and a certified counter balance forklift operator.

Ms. Campbell has served as a presenter with the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) regarding slip, trip, stumble, and fall incidents. She has shared her engineering expertise with many organizations on topics including slip, trip, stumble, and fall incidents; electronic data in the realm of accident reconstruction; safety engineering and the engineering hierarchy; photogrammetry and other accident reconstruction techniques; OSHA compliance; and Industrial Engineering. Ms. Campbell is a registered and licensed Professional Engineer in five states and she continues to refine her skills and knowledge.

Expertise:

Mr. Chris Yates, P.E. - Mr. Yates has over 20 years of experience investigating cases related to a variety of forensic engineering issues. He is a Mechanical Engineer specializing in accident reconstruction involving autos, tractor-trailers, bicycles, pedestrians, and other roadway related incidents. His expertise also includes seat belts, occupant kinematics, product failure analysis, and electronic module downloads for both automobile airbag modules and tractor-trailer electronic control modules.

In addition to providing documentation, analysis, reports and testimony in forensics matters, Mr. Yates has been involved in the design of various products including safety guards for grinders and band saws, port container handling systems, vehicle and boat storage systems, warehouse material handling systems, and material handling systems for shipboard use.

Expertise:

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.

William Guentzler, Ph.D. has over 30 years as a Forensic Examiner and 36 years as a University Professor. Dr. Guentzler specializes in the area of FAILURE ANALYSIS for autos, trucks, ATCs, ATVs, motorcycles, motor homes, marine and golf carts. 

Areas of Expertise:

Dr. Guentzler has served as an Expert Witness for both Plaintiff and Defense in over 550 Cases. References are available upon request.

Envista Forensics is a global leader in Forensic Engineering & Recovery Solutions. They provide Cause & Origin, Failure Analysis, Fire and Explosion Investigations, Accident Reconstruction, Damage Evaluations and Equipment Restoration Services following disasters of all kinds. Envista has offered Consulting Services to the insurance, legal and risk management industries, as well as businesses, public entities, and universities for over 25 years.

Their Experts travel globally from 30 offices located across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Australia and Singapore. Envista's experience counts when equipment, systems, structures, or data have been threatened by catastrophe or litigation. Their experts and advisors determine cause and responsibility, and identify the nature and extent of damage or loss and provide a full range of solutions to protect their assets.

Envista's technical professionals are trusted advisors and industry leaders. Their expertise is broad and deep, capable of withstanding all forms of scrutiny. Envista's services are available globally so that certainty is assured no matter where in the world it is needed. As the recovery from disasters has grown more complex, Envista has developed a comprehensive array of services to help their clients and has associates located around the globe to provide assurance no matter the type of loss or location of the disaster. Envista helps attorneys quickly get to meaningful answers on the many technical issues at the center of a dispute. Their engineers have decades of experience working with both defendants and plaintiffs.

They offer effective Expert Witness Testimony, with the ability to communicate effectively, build rapport with juries and judges, and maintain adherence to structured, methodical approaches in drawing conclusions are all extremely critical. Envista Forensics understands how critical the selection of an expert can be, and we understand what makes experts effective. Their court qualified experts have extensive experience providing expert testimony on a wide variety of engineering and technical matters.

Areas of Expertise:

View Envista's Consulting Profile.

Dr. Tarek Omar, is a Mechanical and Structural Engineering expert with over 24 years of leading edge experience in the areas of accident investigation and reconstruction, highway safety, automotive / vehicular engineering, security barriers and structural analysis. From 1994 to 2002, 

Dr. Omar worked as a Senior Research Scientist at the National Crash Analysis Center (NCAC), the renowned research center created in 1992 as a successful collaborative effort among the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and George Washington University (GWU). The NCAC supports the US-DOT strategic goal to reduce fatalities and injuries on the nation's roadways and has successfully served to enhance safety worldwide. Dr, Omar completed numerous research projects in vehicle crash analysis, vehicle crashworthiness, and highway safety. 

In 2002, Dr. Omar founded his consulting firm, Advanced Research and Technology Corp (ART). In his role as President and Senior Consultant, he directs and conducts advanced Design and Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in the areas of Structural Impacts, Transportation Safety, and Physical Security Protection. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Omar and his team at ART provide clients with the compelling scientific evidences necessary to pursue and win complex specialty lawsuits including but not limited to vehicle crash, airbag and seatbelt fatalities and injuries, slip, trip & falls, occupant biomechanics, crashworthiness, and failure analysis, fuel tank, pipelines, and pressure vessel analysis. 

ART experts are widely recognized as a world leader in advanced computer simulations of complicated structural dynamics, crash, and impact-related problems. They use state-of-the-art technology including 3-D computer animation engineering and modeling and the latest engineering techniques for crash analysis (frontal, side-impact, vehicle, rollover, etc.), crash scene investigation, crash test data analysis (FMVSS, NCAP, IIHS, etc.), crash statistical data analysis (NASS, FARS, etc.), occupant kinematics, occupant protection, biomechanics, vehicle dynamics, and computerized crash simulations. 

Areas of Expertise:

View ART's Consulting Profile.