Expert Details
Highway and Rail Accident Reconstruction and Forensic Analysis of Construction
ID: 724538
Florida, USA
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. |
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 |
Professional Appointments |
---|
Contract Documents: Developed highway, bridge, and railroad preliminary and final construction documents in California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Colorado, and Ohio. - Interstate 90 Freeway, Erie County, Pennsylvania - SR 619 and 241 Interesection, Green, Ohio - Riverview Bikeway, Akron, Ohio - Main Street Signalization, Reconstruction, and widening, Niles, Ohio - Valleyview Bikeway, Akron, Ohio - Howland Wilson and Sharon Wilson Road, Trumbull County Road, Trumbull County, Ohio - SR 236 and Portage Street, Stark County, Ohio - Wharf Restoration Project, Canal Fulton, Ohio - Interstate 90 Freeway, Cleveland, Ohio - Twin Lakes Culvert, Summit County, Ohio - US24 Bypass, Colorado Springs, Colorado - Commuter Railroad, Los Angeles and Orange Counties, California - Various Bridge Replacement projects, Hocking, Wayne, Summit, Holmes, Harrison, Muskingum, and Stark Counties, Ohio - 52 Intersections, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania - Commuter Station Facilities, Schaumburg and Roselle, Illinois - Main Street Viaduct Bridge Replacement, Niles, Ohio - Mill Street Bridge Replacement, Akron,Ohio - SR 193 Bridge Repl;acement, Youngstown, Ohio - Portage Lakes Drive Improvement, Akron, Ohio - Bettes Corners Bridge Rehabilitiation, Akron, Ohio - I-71 Widening, Medina and Wayne Counties, Ohio - Closed Loop Signal System, 80 intersections, Warren, Ohio Transportation Planning- Involved in various aspects of route planning, traffic assignments, and capacity analysis. Representative projects include: - Development of street and highway needs, East St. Louis Area, Illinois - Fox Valley Expressway, Barrington to Oswego, Illinois - Joliet Area, Skokie, Park Ridge and Kankakee County Transportation Studies, Illinois - US 422 Traffic Corridor Study, Warren, Ohio Mass Transit/ Railroad Experience- Participated in planning, design, and construction over site for track realignment, new alignment, new and rehabilitation bridge work in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Colorado, California, Washington, DC and Georgia. Representative projects include: - Sandyville Rail Line Evaluation, Akron to Canton, Ohio - Commuter Rail System, Los Angeles and five adjacent counties, California - Assessment for commuter operation - US 24 Bypass, Colorado Springs, Colorado- Design report - Antelope Valley Curve Commuter Rail Realignment Project, Santa Clarita to Pearblossom, California - Florida High Speed Rail, Ft. Lauderdale to Orlando, Florida - Reconfiguration and replacement of railroad track, Union Station, Union Tower and Valley Coast Line, Los Angeles, California - Northeast Corridor Improvement Project, Maryland, Washington, DC, and Boston Massachusetts - WMATA Glenmont Route, Washington, DC for the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority - Fully automated state- of- the -art freight classification yard, Nevada, Iowa - Frankford El Rehabilitation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - MARTA West Line, Atlanta, Georgia - Railroad Upgrade Assessment Project, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and New York - Assessment for Rehabilitation, Penn Central Branch Line, Cairo to Olmsted, Illinois |
Publications and Patents Summary |
---|
Has authored 7 environmental documents |
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 |
Training / Seminars |
---|
He has developed and delivered a seminar on Project Development to Civil Engineering Faculty and Students at Ohio State University. Teaching Experience: Taught various subjects to middle and high school students at the Beaufort County District schools in South Carolina, mentoring engineers in training, and a traffic control course at Northwestern University Police Academy. |
Other Relevant Experience |
---|
Review of Contract Drawings Review of Maintenance of Traffic For Construction |
Fields of Expertise
automotive accident reconstruction, construction accident, construction defect, construction design deficiency, traffic engineering, construction insurance claim, highway construction, railroad accident, mass transit accident, traffic light, traffic, guardrail, land zoning, construction claim, vertical settlement, subsurface deficiency, construction deficiency, construction material deficiency, transportation hazard, traffic calming, railroad transportation, light-rail transit system, queue, traffic surveillance, traffic marking, construction engineering, Department of Transportation transportation code, intelligent highway, highway, construction contract, railroad, railway, construction inspection, automotive accident, public transportation, construction project management, design process, construction, engineering, transportation noise, transportation engineering, traffic congestion, railroad engineering, project management, construction planning, construction material