Bicycle Safety Operation Expert Witness

TECHNICAL AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION:

• Expert testimony and professional consultation in regard to the design, construction, repairing of bicycles, bicycle safety and operation of bicycles and the cause of bicycle failure.
• Reconstructing mechanical aspects of bicycle accidents involving roadways, vehicles, railroad crossings, rider error or mechanical failure; explaining the chain of events which show the order in which certain evidence is created, and evaluating the various types of damage done.

EXPERIENCE:

1978 – 1993: Owner and Operator
Private Company, San Jose, CA
Services Performed:  sales and service, rebuilding, reconditioning, designing, fabricating and customizing bicycles.

1982 – Present: Consultant / Bicycle Expert
Bicycle Accident Investigations, San Jose, CA

1993 – 1999: Owner and Operator
Private Company, San Jose, CA

1999 – 2013: Owner and Operator
Private Company, San Jose, CA
Curator in charge of museum, manufacturer and designer of bicycles and  component parts, sales and service, rebuilding, reconditioning and customizing bicycles.

2013-Present :  Owner and Operator
Private Company, Fort Jones, CA- Services performed:  Journeyman Bicycle Repairman; service and repair, rebuilding, reconditioning, and customizing bicycles.

1986 – 1987:    Bicycle Safety Coordinator
National Safety Council, San Jose, CA
Services Performed:   developed and implemented bicycle safety programs for the National Safety Council and The City of San Jose, taught bicycle safety at elementary, junior high, high school and college levels.

1970 – 1984:    Owner and Operator
Private Company, Santa Cruz, CA
Services Performed:  sales and service, rebuilding, reconditioning, and customizing bicycles.

1981: General Manager and Sales Representative
Kobe Company, a bicycle and parts wholesaler, San Jose, CA
Services Performed:  Bicycle and parts wholesaling, responsible for customer service, including the general public and bicycle shops, quality control and choosing the components for each model of bicycle within the line.

PRIOR EXPERT EXPERIENCE:

Over 20 trial appearances;  over 40 arbitrations;  over 100 depositions;  over 800 bicycle accident investigations for attorneys in the past 33 years.

BACKGROUND AND FORMAL EDUCATION:

• High School Graduate:  Santa Cruz Adult Education, 1978.
• Reconstruction of Automobile Accidents Involving Pedestrians or Bicycles;  Skidmark Analysis;  Advanced Collision Investigations;  University of California, Riverside.  1999-2001
• Bicycle expert with over 40 years of experience in the retail bicycle business.
• First testified as an expert witness in 1982 on behalf of the Huffy Bicycle Company.
• Avid cyclist with over 40 years experience in riding all types of bicycles.
• Competitively raced downhill mountain bikes in 1999 and 2000.  Competitively raced  a High Wheeler in 2008.
•  Authored article in 1992 regarding binder bolt failures.  Lectured to the Society of Forensic Engineers and Scientists regarding bicycle accident investigations, bicycle safety and operation 1990, lectured regarding quick release failures 2000 and lectured regarding the evolution of bicycles and litigation 2008.
• Has been actively working with forensic engineers and scientists for over 30 years.  Has worked for plaintiff and defense attorneys.  Has qualified to testify in civil and criminal trials.
• Has testified as an expert witness in Federal, Superior and Municipal Courts.  Has worked for attorneys who represented the United States Government, State of California, counties, cities, bicycle manufactures, bicycle component part manufacturers, wholesale distributors, retail bicycle shops and insurance companies.

PATENTS:

Available Upon Request

AFFILIATIONS:

• Society of Forensic Engineers and Scientists, Los Altos Hills, CA – Member since 1988
• The League of American Bicyclists, USA – Member since 2014
• Town of Fort Jones City Council, City Councilman – Member since 2023

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Bicycle Mechanics Certificate, Barnett’s Bicycle Institute 1998
• Bicycle Assembler’s Certificate, Barnett’s Bicycle Institute 1998
• Accident Reconstruction Certificate, University of California, Riverside 1999
• Intermediate Collision Investigation:  Skidmark Analysis Certificate, University of California 2000
• Advanced Collision Investigation Certificate, University of California, Riverside 2000
• Human Factors in Accident Reconstruction Certificate, University of California, Riverside 2001
• Traffic Skills 101,  Bicycle Safety Certificate, The League of American Bicyclists, USA 2014
• League Certified Instructor (LCI), The League of American Bicyclists, USA 2017

Related Page

Navigating the Legal Landscape of E-Bikes and E-Scooters: The Critical Role of Bicycle Expert Witnesses

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