Forensic Biomechanic Accident Reconstruction Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.2841

Education & Professional Credentials

Master of Science, graduated December 1993. Mechanical Engineering Design with an emphasis in Biomechanics, San Diego State University. Recipient of Graduate Equity Fellowship for graduate research at San Diego State University. Research was in the specific field of Biomechanics and its engineering parameterization.

Bachelor of Science, graduated December 1991. Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Design/Biomechanics.  San Diego State University.

Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.), October 1995. Mechanical Engineering licensure through examination by the Department of Consumer Affairs. License number M-29992.

Board Certified Forensic Examiner, July 1996. Diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Examiners. Areas of expertise Biomechanics and Accident Reconstruction.

Accredited, The Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (A.C.T.A.R.), January 1998. Recognition for academic achievement, completion of accident specific training, and applied experience in the field of Accident Reconstruction through examination.

Registered Emergency Medical Technician (N.R.E.M.T.), June 1998. Certified through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Trained in evaluating the nature and extent of traumatic and/or medical conditions, as well as the administration of emergency pre-hospital medical care.

Professional Experience

Principal and Senior Consultant, A Private Forensic Consulting Corporation (7/98 to present)

Private practice specializing in forensic Biomechanics, Accident Reconstruction, and Slip/trip-and-falls. Provide analyses and/or on-site investigations for both the plaintiff and the defense.

Analyses are specific to the understanding of the human body’s kinematic and kinetic responses to varying loading modes, thereby delineating the causal relationship between insult and injury.

Lecturer, Riverside Community College In Conjunction With The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Training & Education Bureau; Biomechanics of Low Velocity Impacts, (10/00 to 8/03)

Lecturer in the field of Biomechanical Engineering as related to low velocity impacts. Lectures incorporate basic anatomy, biomechanics, and human impact tolerance thresholds. 

Biomechanical coordinator of low-speed crash testing with human volunteers.  Participated as the “volunteer subject” in multiple frontal and rear-end automobile crash tests.

Biomechanical Engineering , Accident Reconstruction Slip/Trip and Falls

Guest Lecturer/Speaker, University of California-Riverside College of Extended Studies; Biomechanics of Low Velocity Impacts, (4/98 to 2/01)

Courses involved Automotive Biomechanical Engineering as related to low velocity impacts. Student body consists of Medical Doctors, Chiropractors, and Accident Reconstructionists. Classes taught through the College of Extended Studies in the Traffic Accident Investigation and Reconstruction Program.

Biomechanical coordinator of low-speed crash testing with human volunteers. Participated as the “volunteer subject” in multiple frontal and rear-end automobile crash tests.

National Director of Biomechanical Engineering, Forensic Consultants, (10/94 to 7/98)

Director and Senior Engineer of a national forensic and research engineering team consisting of four full-time Mechanical and Biomedical Engineers. Supervise the dynamic testing of bumper absorber systems as well as bumper impact strengths. Coordination of two research offices (San Diego and New York) in regard to research data and analysis.

Analysis of over a 1000 cases throughout the United States for both the plaintiff and the defense. Cases are specific to Accident Reconstruction, Slip/trip-and-falls, and/or biomechanics.

Forensic assignments range from delineating the biomechanical causality of injury with respect to occupant kinematics of varying bodily insults, to determination of velocity and perception/reaction time. Analyses of minor soft tissue sprain/strain injuries to significant whole-body trauma.

U.S. Water-Ski Association and E.R.O Industries through San Diego State University, (8/90 to 10/94)

Empirically measured multi-axis biomechanical forces in relation to whole body kinematics and kinetics for aquatic injury. Analysis specific to muscle, ligament, and tendon strengths, as well as bone failure modes.

Implementation of this project required collaboration with doctors and physicians in the area of biomechanics as well as other recognized experts in the study of mechanical causality of injury.

Associate Advisor for the A.C.S. Heart Catheter Design Team S.D.S.U., (8/89 to 12/89)

Assisted and advised on a machine process to drill blood flow holes on ceramic heart catheters without fragmentation.

Project required designing a unique high volume method to enable blood passage through in-vivo heart angioplasty surgery.

Associations & Memberships

Accident Reconstruction Network

Fellow, American College of Forensic Examiners Institute

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine

Biomedical Engineering Society

California Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialist

Diplomat, American Board of Forensic Examiners

National Academy of Forensic Engineers

National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialist

National Forensic Center (1995-2000)

Biomechanical Engineering,  Accident Reconstruction, Slip/Trip and Falls

National Society of Professional Engineers   

Society of Automotive Engineers   

Southwest Association of Technical Accident Investigators

Publications, Editor & Peer Reviewer

Available upon request

Lectures By Invite

Lorman Education Services; Topics: Biomechanical Evidence and Causation of Low Impact Injuries. September 10, 1999. Town & Country Convention Center; San Diego, California. 

Sharp Memorial Hospital under the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME); Trauma Journal Club Activity, Topic: “Biomechanics of Auto Accidents.” Attendance: 20 Trauma Physicians.  January 30, 1997. The Sharp Auditorium; San Diego, California.

AEGIS Institute; Medical Fraud Investigation, Topic: “Biomechanics of Automobile Accidents and Slip/Trip-and-Falls.” Attendance: 120-140 Nurses and Physicians in the Forensic field. September 9-12, 1995. The Queen Mary; Long Beach, California

Lectures & Presentations. Lecture throughout the United States in the field of Biomechanics as related to automobile accidents, slip/trip-and-falls, and accident reconstruction. Topics include the biomechanics of the carpal-tunnel, shoulder, knee, temporomandibular-joint (TMJ), soft tissue spinal kinetics and kinematics, whole body occupant kinematics, causation and mechanism of injury, baby seat performance, headlight examination, driver reaction time, visibility and perception, passenger seat belt, and compartmental interaction.

Research & Crash Testing

Jointly conducted approximately 150 human volunteer rear-end, frontal, and side/side-swipe impact tests, all with occupant parameterization.

Extensive work in biomechanics, automotive design, structural static and dynamic design, metallic, non-metallic and composite materials.

Continuing research and testing in the structural integrity of modern vehicle design, bumper compression strengths, occupant safety and the kinematic response of the human body.

Low Speed Crash Testing for Biomechanical Engineering Students at The University of California-Berkeley & Sacramento State University. Biomechanical coordinator of low-speed crash testing with human volunteers. Empirical rear-end, frontal, and side & side-swipe impact tests incorporating occupant/vehicle parameterization using accelerometer

University of California-Riverside. Biomechanical coordinator of low-speed crash testing with human volunteers. Empirical rear-end and frontal impact tests incorporating occupant/vehicle parameterization. October 27, 1999. Riverside, California.

University of California-Riverside. Biomechanical coordinator of low-speed crash testing with human volunteers. Empirical rear-end, frontal, and side/side-swipe impact tests incorporating occupant/vehicle parameterization. April 29, 1998.  Riverside, California.

Continuing Education

Southwestern Association of Technical Accident Investigators, Inc. “Critical Speed Yaw, Pole/Narrow Object Impacts, Rotational Mechanics, Analysis of Airborne Vehicles.” October 31 - November 1, 2008. Humphrey’s; San Diego, California.

California Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists (CAARS) “Vehicle Component Inspection (Suspension System, Vehicle Lamps, Tires Brakes, Steering System), CDR Update.” August 20, 2008. Santa Ana, California.

California Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists (CAARS) “Pedestrian Accident Reconstruction, Nighttime Visibility, Commercial Vehicle Accident Reconstruction, Low Speed Collisions.”  October 18-19, 2007. Sheraton; Anaheim, California.

Southwestern Association of Technical Accident Investigators, Inc. “Truck Brake Issues and Conspicuity.” November 3, 2006. Humphrey’s; San Diego, California.

Collision Safety Institute (CSI) “Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) Technician Course & Data Analyst Certification.” August 7 - 10, 2006. Vallejo, California.

California Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists (CAARS) “Traffic collision Photography.” Digital photography of scene, evidence, and injury. June 12, 2006. Riverside, California.

Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM) “Motorcycle Crash Investigation.” Crash analysis and testing. March 27 – 31, 2006. Orange, California.

Collision Safety Institute (CSI) “Collision Trauma Biomechanics.” March 6 – 10, 2006. North Las Vegas, Nevada

Accident Reconstruction Network (ARC) & Collision Safety Institute (CSI) Crash Conference 2005. “Damage and Energy,” “Pedestrian Crash Reconstruction Methodologies,” “Pedestrian Crash Injuries.” June 9, 2005. Palace Station; Las Vegas, Nevada.

Southwestern Association of Technical Accident Investigators, Inc. “Commercial Vehicle” November 5, 2004. Humphrey’s; San Diego, California.

California Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists (CAARS) “Motorcycle Investigation and Reconstruction.” Motorcycle Crash Testing, Helmet & Injury Analysis. October 28-30, 2004. Flamingo Resort Hotel; Santa Rosa, California. 

Accident Reconstruction Network (ARC) & Collision Safety Institute (CSI) Crash Conference 2004. “Evaluating Crashes for Injury Potential.” Human Subject Crash Testing, Injury Potential and Occupant Kinematics, Epidemiology, Black Box Technology, Seat Belt Injuries. June 19-20, 2004. Palace Station; Las Vegas, Nevada.

Accident Reconstruction Network (ARC) & Collision Safety Institute (CSI) Crash Conference 2003. “Collision Trauma Biomechanics,” “”Low Speed” Analysis and Biomechanics,” “New Version CDR System.” June 11, 2003. Palace Station; Las Vegas, Nevada.

Society of Automotive Engineers Passenger Vehicle Rollover TOPTEC: Causes, Prevention and Injury Prevalence. “Biomechanics of Neck Injuries,” “Reconstruction of Rollover Accidents,” “Occupant Kinematics during Rollover.” April 22-23, 2002. Chaparral Suites; Scottsdale, Arizona.

Southwestern Association of Technical Accident Investigators, Inc. “Human Factors & Ergonomics in Accident Reconstruction,” “Commercial Vehicle Brake Performance,” “Vehicles in Transitional Yaws.” March 8-9, 2002. Circus Circus; Las Vegas, Nevada.

California Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists (CAARS) “Injury Mechanisms During Motor Vehicle Collisions.” February 20, 2002. Anaheim Police Department; Anaheim California.

Southwestern Association of Technical Accident Investigators, Inc. “Crush,” “Black Box Data Retrieval,” “Air Bag Technology.” November 16-17, 2001. Humphrey’s; San Diego, California.

Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), “Biomechanical Analysis of Traumatic Spinal Injuries.” September 7, 2001. The Venetian Hotel & Casino; Las Vegas, Nevada.

Southwestern Association of Technical Accident Investigators, Inc. “Biomechanics in Rollover Collisions,” “Forensic Mapping.” July 13, 2001. Embassy Suites Hotel; Tempe, Arizona.

Southwestern Association of Technical Accident Investigators, Inc. “Low Speed Impacts,” “Pedestrian Accident Reconstruction,” and “Traffic Signal Timing.” November 5-6, 1999. Humphrey’s; San Diego, California.

University of California-San Diego, School of Medicine, Continuing Medical Education Accidental Injury: Biomechanics & Prevention. October 23-24, 1999. UCSD School of Medicine; La Jolla, California.

Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company, Inc. Low-Speed Accident Reconstruction and Litigation Seminar. October 22, 1999. SunSpree Resort; Scottsdale, Arizona.

California Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists (CAARS) First Annual Training Conference. “Speed from Crush” & “Black Box Technology.” October 15-16, 1999. Concord Hilton; Concord, California.

Wayne State University School of Medicine & The Society of Automotive Engineers International Symposium WHIPLASH ’98 Conference. November 5-6, 1998. The Buttes Conference Resort Center; Tempe, Arizona.

Society of Automotive Engineers 42nd Annual STAPP Car Crash Conference. November 2-4, 1998. The Buttes Conference Resort Center; Tempe, Arizona.

Society of Automotive Engineers, San Diego Chapter’s Monthly Forum “Airbags and Biomechanics.” January 29, 1998. San Diego, California.

University of California-Riverside, 40-hrs classroom lecture, 17 empirical low velocity rear-end and frontal crash tests with human volunteers. November 17-21, 1997. Riverside, California.

Society of Automotive Engineers 39th Annual STAPP Car Crash Conference. November 8-10, 1995. San Diego, California.