Our experience includes forensic engineering evaluations of passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, 18-wheelers, and heavy equipment. Our automotive evaluation experts have the education, training, and experience in automotive design, service, repair, and maintenance. Our courtroom-qualified experts have evaluated hundreds of failures, involving accidents, fires, and personal injury.
Automotive Evaluations: Buses, 18-Wheelers, and Ambulances
Our forensic engineers are experienced with large diesel engines and can conduct a failure analysis on tractor trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles to determine the source of the failure and the current mechanical condition. Whether it is determining the cause of an accident, roll-over, fire, or loading or hauling mishap, our forensic engineers are able to obtain the facts you need to move forward with your case. U.S. Forensic can also obtain crash data for select commercial vehicles.
More information is available on our Vehicle Accident Reconstruction services page.
Mechanical Systems Failures
U.S. Forensic provides fast and accurate answers to challenging cases. Our experts can evaluate automotive systems to determine if failure or fire occurred due to a manufacturing defect, service or repair, lack of maintenance, or operator error. Our failure analysis can determine the source of:
- Sudden Acceleration
- Steering Failures
- Tire Failures
- Seatbelt Failures
- Fuel System Contamination
- Airbag Deployment
Post-Theft Automotive Evaluations & Key Analysis
In conducting our post-theft automotive evaluations, we perform testing of fluids and major mechanical components to determine the pre-theft condition of the vehicle. Key, transponder, anti-theft and engine immobilizer systems analysis are performed to determine how a vehicle was stolen and whether a key was used or duplicated or if the engine immobilizer system was bypassed. Our key analysis services are supervised by a certified forensic locksmith and forensic engineer. Visit our News & Events section to learn more about our key analysis expert, Jeff Stark, PE, CFL. You may also visit our Key Analysis page for more detailed information.
Crash Data & Infotainment Downloads
Our mechanical engineers can download crash data (CDR or “black box” data) from electronic control modules (ECM) of passenger and commercial vehicles. Depending on the make and model of the vehicle, this data can provide the client with speed, braking, acceleration, and other key factors associated with the event and assist our accident reconstruction experts. Reach out to us on our Contact Us page to learn which passenger vehicles have recorded data that can be retrieved from the airbag control modules (ACM), roll-over sensors (ROS), or powertrain control modules (PCM).
Vehicle infotainment and telematics systems store a vast amount of data such as recent destinations, favorite locations, call logs, contact lists, SMS messages, emails, social media feeds, whether vehicle lights were on or doors open, and the navigation history. U.S. Forensic can access this data through the use of Berla iVe equipment. To find out if a particular vehicle may be supported, please contact us.
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Featured Experts for this Forensic Service
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Gabriel Alexander, P.E., ACTAR | Professional Engineer / Accident Reconstructionist |
| Kevin Brown, M.E., ACTAR | Mechanical Engineer / Accident Reconstructionist |
| Daniel Cross, P.E., ACTAR | Professional Engineer / Accident Reconstructionist |
| Brian Darr, P.E. | Professional Engineer / Tire Expert / Fire Investigator |
| Michael DeHarde, P.E. | Partner / Principal Engineer |
| Mark Droubie, P.E., ACTAR | Professional Engineer / Accident Reconstructionist |
| Dennis H. Dyl, P.E., CFEI, CFI, CVFI | Professional Engineer / Fire Investigator |
| Eric Fontenot, P.E. | Professional Engineer/Certified Welding Inspector |
| Jeremy Hoffpauir, P.E., ACTAR | Professional Engineer / Accident Reconstructionist |
| Matthew Ivory, P.E. | Professional Engineer / Accident Reconstructionist |
| Eugene Lopez-Oña, P.E. | Professional Engineer |
| Chris Owens, Sr. | Accident Reconstructionist |
| Barry Peak, BSME, ACTAR, ASE, CFEI, CVFI | Mechanical Engineer / Accident Reconstructionist / Fire Investigator |
| Jeffrey Stark, P.E., CFL | Professional Engineer / Certified Forensic Locksmith |
