Articles

Wheels that separate from a moving vehicle create two potentially deadly hazards; the first is a disabled vehicle with diminished braking ability and directional control/stability, the second is an uncontrolled wheel that is capable of striking people or objects that are a significant distance from the spot of origin. In this article, we discuss the common causes for wheel separation and the industry best practices for vehicle maintenance procedures.

Treadmill entrapment injuries have been long-known and continue to make headlines today. These incidents can be prevented by the implementation of a relatively simple fixed barrier guard, which has also been long-known.

In this article, Industrial Engineer Harry Ehrlich discusses the inrunning nip point hazard that exists between the moving belt of the treadmill and the floor or other stationary object, and the manufacturer’s responsibility to protect people from that hazard.

This webinar video explores aviation safety by following the passenger’s journey from pre-flight through take-off, landing, and deplaning. Experts from our Aviation practice explain the critical safety steps involved in ground operations, cabin safety, and boarding/deplaning. The presentation focuses on the causative factors that contribute to the passenger and crew injuries most common to our casework.

The crash reconstruction experts at Robson Forensic are frequently asked if it’s possible to perform a meaningful crash investigation without having the damaged vehicles available for inspection. In some instances, we can. In this article, we describe how photographs can be used to determine scientifically valid vehicle crush measurements.

This webinar video reviews the capabilities and limitations of key forensic technologies used to document and analyze crash sites and vehicle damage in motor vehicle cases. Experts from our Crash Reconstruction practice present alongside our Forensic Technology group to offer attorneys and insurance professionals a conceptual framework for addressing the challenges in their own cases.

Accurately estimating construction costs requires a thorough understanding of project specific criteria, including the scope of work, project plans, applicable specifications, scheduling, project phasing, site-specific restraints, and construction methods. Based on the complexity of the process and the value of construction projects, these estimates are frequently disputed.

In this article, Civil Engineer Michael Tuttman discusses the key criteria considered when forensically investigating a construction cost dispute.

Forensic analysis of CCTV video evidence is potentially broader than scrutinizing the visible elements in a recording. System analysis can often be used to identify other relevant video files, potential evidence, or indications of spoliation.

In this article, premises security expert John Hassard discusses video surveillance systems, considerations for analyzing video evidence, and methods for determining if other relevant data may exist.

Land development can be described as a process of altering land uses and/or physical conditions of real property. Site Construction, also commonly referred to as “Civil” or “Heavy” Construction requires a developer to navigate a complex landscape of planning, entitlements and approvals, design development, and permitting processes. Missteps along this process can result in damage, injuries, adverse environmental impacts, and/or significant financial losses and exposure.

This article highlights some issues, challenges, and hazards that are typical of Site/Civil/Heavy Construction work and common to our forensic investigations.

“Think like a raindrop” is an old adage used by designers and builders of low rise residential buildings – think single family homes, townhouses, and two and three story apartment buildings. It’s also applicable to commercial buildings of the same height and light weight construction, i.e. motels and small office buildings. The concept refers to designing and constructing building exteriors that will reliably shed water and keep the underlying structure and building interiors dry.

In this article, Architect & Construction Expert, Thomas Pienciak, AIA gives a primer on water intrusion construction defect claims by walking through the means and methods of building construction.

Addressing the standard of care in premises liability and property management disputes involving snow and ice can be complex. In these cases, issues of causation and notice can be complicated by site drainage, unnatural snow accumulation, and the variety of services and surface treatment options available to property managers.

In this webinar video, premises safety expert Sylvia Deye and Property Management expert Albert Kerelis discuss the most prominent technical challenges in snow and ice investigations. Attendees will learn about site issues that can contribute to snow/ice related injuries, the standard of care for property owners and managers, and some of the relevant safety standards.

The titles of Captain, Master, or Skipper are used to demarcate the person in charge aboard commercial or recreational vessels. These titles carry a responsibility to ensure for the safety of those aboard his or her vessel and the safety of other vessels operating in the region by acting in accordance with a set of minimum standards of care.

In this webinar video, Captain Kyle McAvoy (USCG Retired) will explore the standard of care for Captains, Masters, and Skippers within the context of boating mishaps and commercial claims. Attendees will gain insights to the governing standards as they apply to professional mariners and recreational boat operators and develop a framework for evaluating their actions during times of duress.

Conflicting testimony in bicycle vs. vehicle collisions can often be resolved through a biomechanical analysis of the injuries. In this article, Mechanical Engineer & Biomechanics Expert, Dr. Carolyne Albert describes how engineering and physics can be used to scientifically answer questions about the mechanics of bicycle collision incidents and injuries.

“Electrical control” is a specialized discipline of electrical engineering where, to put it simply, electrical circuits and programmable electronics are engineered to turn machines and consumer products on and off. That is an over simplification but after all the engineering design, functional requirements, safety requirements, testing, and many other required activities are completed, the product or machine will turn on and off in accordance with desired parameters.

In this article, Electrical Engineer Jeffrey Kobilka explains what some of those devices are, how they can fail, and how an electrical controls engineer could be beneficial to your case.

In this article, heavy vehicle engineer Rick Barrett provides an introduction to heavy truck crash reconstruction, including an explanation of why the Conservation of Energy (COE) method is crucial for accurate and reliable reconstructions.

Drums, cones, tubular markers, vertical panels and barricades are all channelizing devices used on and around roadways during construction, maintenance and utility projects. The Highway Construction Experts at Robson Forensic are often tasked with determining whether or not a project’s Temporary Traffic Control zone was proper or in violation of the standards, and whether an improper TTC zone was causative to incidents such as vehicle collisions and pedestrians/workers being struck.

In this article, Civil Engineer, Bridge & Roadway Construction Expert, Richard Khorigan, P.E., provides an overview of the typical construction drums being used during roadway construction projects, and the standards of care for their use and maintenance in TTC zones.

The forensic investigation of an industrial explosion and fire can often reliably determine causation and liability by following the trail of chemical compounds, industrial processes, and engineering controls [that were in place]. In this webinar video, Michael Klein provides an overview of the hazards, processes, procedures, training, and compliance measures that figure prominently in explosion and fire cases.

Attendees will learn how and why explosions occur; regulations and industry standards that are intended to mitigate the hazards and risks; and where to start when facing a new case or insurance claim.

Failed structure investigations take many forms: from conventional examples such as buildings and bridges to the less obvious such as traffic signs, tents, trees, and chairs. From a lay perspective, the unifying theme is that something became unstable or collapsed; but from an engineering perspective there was a system failure that caused the structure to not support the loads it was exposed to, and perhaps was intended to support. Structures can fail in different ways and do not always collapse; this article focuses on structures that collapse.

Structural Engineer Anthony Volonnino P.E. sets the stage for looking at the world from the perspective of a structural engineer. For lawyers and insurance professionals, the article attempts to provide a framework for understanding causation, notice, standard of care, and ultimately liability in a broad range of cases where buildings, products, and natural systems fail or collapse.

The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) is an educational and scientific association of nearly 16,000 transportation specialists responsible for meeting mobility and safety needs. The Metropolitan New York/New Jersey Section of ITE’s 2021 Annual Technical Conference had a focus on parking, and how past and current parking practices may apply to future projects. Robson Forensic expert Gordon Meth is a past President of the Metropolitan New York/New Jersey ITE Section, past Chair of the ITE Northeastern District, and is currently on the International Board as Northeastern District Director as well as being chair of the ITE Traffic Engineering Council.

In his presentation, Gordon uses parking studies and available data to discuss the need for standards to adapt to the changing demands for parking in modern development.