Expert Details

Highway and Rail Accident Reconstruction and Forensic Analysis of Construction

ID: 724538 Florida, USA

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Expert has applied his academic training and traffic and transportation engineering design background to accident reconstruction in a number of cases. He has developed construction drawings, specification and cost estimates for a number of highway projects including maintenance of traffic plans for phased construction, traffic control plans including traffic signal systems, signage and striping. He has also been involved in the planning and design of commuter rail systems including track alignments rail at grade crossings and interlockings. All elements were designed in accordance with recognized state and federal standards. He has provide accident reconstruction expert witness services to a number of attorneys and insurance companies for the past 25 years.

Expert has been involved in transportation facility construction observation and resident construction services for both highway and rail projects. This includes monitoring contractors’ labor, equipment, and placement of various items. Correct testing of material has also been observed. Accountability of the contractor's adherence in accordance with the plans and specifications including maintenance of traffic during construction is observed, recorded and reviewed. Expert has provided expert testimony services to attorneys for automotive accidents occurring in construction zones. This has resulted in defining negligence on behalf of a subconsultant in one instance and a verification of contractors’ compliance with federal and state guidelines in development and operation of a construction zone Maintenance of Traffic plan in the other.

Expert has evaluated accident reports, construction progress photographs and accident photographs to determine inferior materials used. This conclusion was based on 30 plus years of developing contract documents for contractors bid in addition to being familiar with standards and material specifications. In one particular instance a subcontractor failed to use proper reinforcement in a median barrier which ultimately led to demolition of the barrier and a collision with an oncoming vehicle.

Expert has evaluated both negligence in use of traffic control devices and adequacy of geometric design for highway facilities in a number of cases. These expert witness services are based on forty years of traffic engineering experience including traffic analysis of highway components and development of geometry and traffic control elements in accordance with federal and state requirements. Examples include evaluation of posted speed and intersection geometrics in an urban area, where both elements were found to be inadequate. The traffic control at an intersection was found to be inadequate in another example. In both instances the plaintiff received favorable judgment and was awarded a significant settlement.

Expert has become proficient at determination of contractual obligations on behalf of utilities, contractors, design consultants and both private and public sector agencies with regard to design and construction of highway and rail projects. This is based on over forty years experience in communicating with the various entities as a part of the process of developing improvement plans, specifications and probable cost of construction estimates. A potential claim from the contractors insurance usually involves more than one entity and could include sub consultants. An example of a case involved submission of plans to utilities for their review by a design consultant. It was alleged that the consultant also had the responsibility to design utility relocations. Expert testimony was provided indicating that this was not part of the design contract and was the utilities responsibility. Judgment substantiated the expert opinion.

Expert has over 48 years of experience being involved in construction resident and observation services for highway projects to governmental agencies. This includes providing daily logs and weekly summaries of contractors performance and progress on site. Elements monitored include labor, materials and equipment. Correct placement in accordance with construction documents is also observed. Expert witness services were provided to examine the construction of a Maintenance of Traffic Plan for the rehabilitation of an Interstate Highway.
Following a detailed review the contractor was found to be in compliance with all State and Federal Regulations as incorporated into the construction.

Expert worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Long-Term Community Recovery Program in New Orleans Parish Office as a Lead Transportation Planner, providing review of repair, rehabilitation and programmed projects as related to serving transportation needs of New Orleans and region after Hurricane Katrina. He also served as a facilitator for New Orleans FEMA Project Worksheet progression.

Expert provided services to attorneys and insurance companies relative to contractors or agency's design and construction compliance with manuals and specific written requirements. Accident reconstruction services were also provided to determine cause and fault of accident.
- Collision Analysis: 37 cases
- Accident investigation related to highway design
- Accident reconstruction of station wagon and heavy duty construction vehicle collision involving multiple fatalities
- Analysis of plan preparation sequence and responsibilities relative to utilities
- Investigation of highway design contributory factor to vehicular collision
- Evaluation of sight distance related to testimony of third party witness to vehicular collision
- Impact speed determination of passenger car from skid marks relative to collision with another vehicle involving injuries and significant damage to vehicles
- Analysis of Culs-De-Sac design with respect to arterial urban highway proximity and resultant permanent injury of individual
- Causative factor analysis of differential pavement elevation related to pedestrian injury
- Traffic control and sight distance analysis of rural four legged intersection comprised of a state route making a 90 degree turn and two county highways
- Investigation of portable concrete barrier structural failure, causative factors that resulted in vehicular collision
- Accident reconstruction to determine validity of police report leading to vehicular homicide charges. This included movement of a deceased passenger from original location
- Analysis of timely placement of maintenance traffic control devices as related to a motorcycle accident occuring on differential pavement elevations
- Construction movement of a crossover location protocol and analysis of type constructed

Education

Year Degree Subject Institution
Year: 1982 Degree: MBA Subject: General Institution: Case Western Reserve University
Year: 1971 Degree: BS Subject: Civil Engineering Institution: Northwestern University

Work History

Years Employer Title Department
Years: 2013 to Present Employer: Undisclosed Title: Consultant and Expert Department:
Responsibilities:
Available upon request.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 2003 to Present Employer: Undisclosed Title: Principal Owner Department:
Responsibilities:
He is providing expert witness services for attorneys and insurance companies. This includes accident reconstruction and construction analysis, all related to transportation facilities.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1999 to 2003 Employer: Burgess & Niple, Ltd. Title: Great Lakes Regional Director of Transportation Department:
Responsibilities:
He directed all transportation activities including planning, accident analysis, warrant applicability for traffic control devices systems and construction observation for highways and bridges.

Additional Experience

Expert Witness Experience
He has testified at a state hearing regarding the resolution of a petition to install flashing lights and gates at a main highway at grade crossing of the former Pennsylvania Railroad mainline tracks in Leroy, Indiana..
Depositions for various assignments including projects and accident reconstruction.
Expert witness- provided services to attorneys and insurance companies relative to contractors or agency's design and construction compliance with manuals and specific written requirements. Accident reconstruction services were also provided to determine cause and fault of accident.
- Collision analysis- 37 cases
- accident investigation related to highway design
- accident reconstruction of station wagon and heavy duty construction vehicle collision involving multiple fatalities
- Analysis of plan preparation sequence and responsibilities relative to utilities
- Investigation of highway design contributory factor to vehicular collision
- Evaluation of sight distance related to testimony of third part witness to vehicular collision
- impact speed determination of passenger car from skid marks relative to collision with another vehicle involving injuries and significant damage to vehicles, rural area
- Analysis of cul-de-sac design with respect to arterial urban highway proximity and resultant permanent injury of individual
- Causative factor analysis of differential pavement elevation related to pedestrian injury
- Traffic control and sight distance analysis of rural four legged intersection comprised of a state route making a 90 degree turn and 2 county highways
- investigation of portable concrete barrier structural failure causative factors that resulted in vehicular collision
- Accident reconstruction to determine validity of police report leading to vehicular homicide charges. This included movement of a deceased passenger from original location
- Analysis of timely placement of maintenance of traffic control devices as related to a motorcycle accident occurring on differential pavement elevations
- construction movement of a crossover location protocol and analysis of type constructed

Career Accomplishments

Associations / Societies
American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association - Life Member
American Society of Civil Engineers - Life Member
ITE - Expert Witness Council
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) - Life Member
National Society of Professional Engineers
Ohio Society of Professional Engineers, Past President, Akron District
Licenses / Certifications
Professional Traffic Operations Engineer, Transportation Professional Certification Board, Washington, DC
Professional Registered Engineer- Ohio and Florida
Publications and Patents Summary
Has authored 7 environmental documents

Fields of Expertise

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