Dr. Vigilante has extensive research and practical experience in the science of human factors / ergonomics.
He analyzes how people perceive risks; the adequacy of warnings; the open and obviousness of hazards; the effects of lighting on visual perception and driver performance; the ability to hear audible warnings against background noise; and the effects of aging on human performance.
He is frequently engaged in cases involving vehicle and motorcycle collisions; visibility and conspicuity of roadway hazards; open and obviousness of slips, trips, and falls; workplace injuries; lighting analysis; sound measurements; and sports, recreational, and skiing related incidents.
Dr. Vigilante also uses his understanding of visual and auditory perception and how people interact with the objects around them to assess their ability to notice, read, and understand product, equipment, and environmental warnings, labeling, use instructions and advertisements.
Dr. Vigilante’s previous work experience includes more than fifteen years of research in higher education and industry including five years as a human factors engineer at IBM. Dr. Vigilante has been conducting forensic investigations for over seven years and has been qualified in several state and federal courts.
Dr. Vigilante has numerous national scientific presentations and publications. He is frequently asked to peer review research publications and studies to determine their merit for inclusion in scientific journals and conferences. His professional affiliations include membership with the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, the Transportation Research Board, and the American Society of Safety Engineers. Dr. Vigilante is also an avid motorcycle rider and skier.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Driveway Collision - Experts Investigate Motorcycle-Car Collision
An older driver pulled out from a driveway with sight obstructions to the left and the right. The motorcyclist,
with right of way on the through road, was forced into an evasive braking maneuver; the motorcycle fell onto
its side and then slid into the exiting car. The motorcyclist was severely injured.
Robson Forensic involved three experts: a highway engineer, a human factors specialist, and a
motorcycle expert.
On the basis of Robson Forensic’s work this case resolved through settlement with the property owners on both sides of the driveway.
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- Visibility Factors in Small Boat Collisions
BACKGROUND:
Collisions with recreational vessels consistently rank as a leading primary marine accident type.
Robson Forensic conducted a research study, with the gracious participation of volunteers from Cecil County, Maryland,to examine the ability of a reasonably attentive lookout to detect and identify personal watercraft.
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- Highway Construction – Expert Investigates Collision with Construction Vehicle
A driver was injured when her car collided with a construction vehicle on a state highway. The construction vehicle exited a work zone from a median crossover between the northbound and southbound travel lanes and entered directly into the passing lane in the southbound direction. The injured driver crashed into the back of the construction vehicle. Robson Forensic experts were retained to determine the cause(s) of the incident.
This case settled favorably for our client before trial.
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- Parents' Expectations and Beliefs Toward the Relative Safety of Riding Bicycles at Night
This study examined parent’s expectations, attitudes, and perceptions toward the relative safety of their children riding bicycles at night with reflectors and/or head and tail lights.
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- Motorcycle Helmets - Expert Study on Consumers' Perception of Protection
This study examined consumer beliefs towards the level of protection offered by motorcycle helmets varying in price ($35, $60, $120, $240); level of certification (none, DOT, SNELL, both DOT and Snell); and at high versus low speed lay-down type crashes.
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- Consumers’ Interpretation of the Statement: “Do not leave [insert product here] unattended”
Consumer’s interpretation and understanding of the commonly encountered instruction/warning “do not leave unattended” with respect to three different types of consumer products were examined. Two hundred and eleven respondents were surveyed in the Los Angeles, CA area. The majority of the participants interpreted the phrase differently than how the warning designer intended.
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- Children's Expectations & Beliefs Toward the Relative Safety of Riding Bicycles at Night
This study examined middle-school-aged children's expectations, attitudes, and perceptions toward the relative safety of riding bicycles at night with reflectors and/or head and tail lights.
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- In 2007 Motor Vehicle Collisions Resulted in Excess of 40,000 Fatalities
In 2007 motor vehicle collisions resulted in excess of 40,000 fatalities
and almost 2,500,000 injuries, according to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration’s website. It is often important to
determine both how a crash occurred and the underlying causes
of both the crash and resultant injury.
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- Boat Collision - Expert Investigation into Criminal Charges Resulting from Death
A woman passenger was killed and three others were injured when a power boat collided with a personal watercraft (PWC). Robson Forensic was retained to reconstruct the collision
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- Alcohol Impairment - Robson Forensic Experts
When alcohol is identified as a factor in an injury incident, it is
often assumed to be the only cause. Our experts determine if
alcohol played a causative or contributing role.
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- Jury Finds for Plaintiff in Hospital Warnings Case
A patient fell and was injured when he stepped through an open door from a hospital cafeteria onto a patio.
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- Child Safety - Robson Forensic Experts
Robson Forensic has 20 years of experience analyzing
aspects of cases and claims that are unique to child injuries.
Our sports, recreation, facility design and product experts
are active in organizations promulgating standards and
procedures aimed at protecting children from injury.
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- Human Factors - The Science of Perception and Interaction
Robson Forensic, Inc. Human Factors experts provide scientific answers to
questions involving perception, warnings, instructions and conspicuousness. We
evaluate if the conditions that resulted in cases or claims were open and obvious
as presented to the claimant.
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