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Accident Reconstruction, Vehicle Mechanical, EDR “Black Box” Analysis — Consulting & Expert Witness

February 2, 2024 Consulting Areas Comments Off on Accident Reconstruction, Vehicle Mechanical, EDR “Black Box” Analysis — Consulting & Expert Witness

Dr. McElroy is a triple certified ASE Master Technician in Automobile, Medium / Heavy Truck, & Collision. He is a certified accident reconstructionist through ACTAR and was formerly employed by General Motors as a staff technical instructor. His degree areas are Industrial Safety Engineering, Industrial Education, and Industrial Technology..

He is an internationally recognized vehicle technical expert specializing in the scientific use of forensic evidence for vehicle failure analysis and to reconstruct transportation and industrial accidents since 1986.

Truck ReconstructionHis focus is to consistently provide accurate and technically precise analysis and opinions, authoritatively presented depositions, quality trial exhibits, and reliable expert trial testimony. He has participated in approximately 1,000 depositions and 100 trials.

Vehicle InspectionHe specializes in technical failure and collision analysis related to automobiles, heavy trucks, and industrial vehicles.

He was a member of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) committee dealing with collision Event Data Recorders (EDR) for both private passenger cars and trucks & busses. Dr. McElroy has worked with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) involving vehicle crash recorder technology and initiatives. He was both a member and treasurer of the IEEE P1616 Committee developing standards for Motor Vehicle Event Data Recorders. Dr. McElroy is the past Chairman of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) EDR Committee developing standards and recommended practices for EDR’s.

Florida Graphic 9To contact Dr. Robert McElroy:

  • 352-633-7696 Office

  • 561-703-3881 Cellphone

  • 561-445-0772 Office Cellphone

  • 1364 E. Schwartz Blvd, Lady Lake, FL 32159

To Email Dr. McElroy: rm@forensicaccident.com

Accident Reconstruction

January 16, 2023 Consulting Areas No Comments

Traffic Accident Reconstruction

ACTARTraffic accident reconstruction is the effort to determine, from whatever resources are available, how an accident happened. A traffic accident reconstructionist must be familiar with the application of a wide range of mathematics and specialized aspects of vehicle technology.

Because of the wide range of knowledge required by the accident reconstructionist, voluntary certification is available through the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction. ACTAR certification includes education, work experience, and successful completion of a comprehensive examination.

Accident reconstruction deals with:

  • kinetic energy
  • conservation of momentum
  • seatbelttime-distance calculations
  • physical evidence from road and vehicle
  • crash scene photography analysis
  • lamp analysis
  • skid analysis 
  • airborne analysis
  • vehicle data and research
  • damage assessment
  • vehicle damage location, qualification and quantification
  • approach, impact and departure angles
  • approach speed calculation,
  • impact calculations and Delta-V calculation
  • post impact speed calculation

Dr. McElroy specializes in motor vehicle technology and accident reconstruction. This typically entails physical inspection of the damaged vehicles, examination of the accident scene, and reconstruction of collision events using engineering calculations based primarily on momentum, energy, and restitution equations.

Vehicles may include passenger cars, light trucks, commercial vehicles, bicycles, and motorcycles. Information on pre-crash, crash, and post-crash (the 3 phases of a crash) is compiled to best determine how the event (accident, collision, failure) happened. Issues investigated include:

  • Vehicle Speeds
  • Impact Severity
  • Driver Actions
  • Seat Belt Use
  • Accident Causal Factors
  • Collision Avoidance
  • Line of Sight / Visibility Problems
  • Mechanical Defects
  • Tire Failure
  • Black Box Data
  • Lamp Analysis

Collision Diagram

Motorcycle going wrong way on divided suburban street.

Motorcycle going wrong way on divided suburban street.

Vehicle Technical Expert & Forensic Mechanic

January 12, 2023 Consulting Areas Comments Off on Vehicle Technical Expert & Forensic Mechanic
Box Truck Brake Failure

Box Truck Brake Failure

ASE Certified Master Technician and Expert Witness — Forensic Mechanic and Forensic Mechanical services:

  • mechanical and technical inspections
  • highway, off-road, and industrial vehicles
  • vehicle failure analysis and product liability
  • engines, transmission and drive train
  • electrical and electronic components
  • unintended acceleration or pedal misapplication
  • steering gear and linkage
  • suspension systems and failure analysis
  • brake system operation and failure analysis
  • air brakes, hydraulic brakes, & air-hydraulic
  • vehicle maintenance
  • fleet management
battery

Manufacturing Defect results in Battery Explosion

flat car

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. McElroy has qualified in Federal and State Courts for criminal and civil trials.

  • Big TruckInsurance, Trucking and Vehicle Rental Industries
  • Individual Plaintiff and Defense Counsel
  • Industrial and Commercial Corporations
  • Local and National Municipalities
  • Other Governmental Entities

Dr. McElroy’s ASE Insignia Patch:

  • Master Automobile Technician
  • Master Heavy Truck Technician
  • Master Body & Paint Technician

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Immediate Accident Response

If you need immediate accident and technical response please contact our office.

New vs Old: Automotive Trends 2023 – 2030

NEW VEHICLES

With the decade beginning in 2020 the automotive industry is dealing with four key new vehicle trends. All of these trends will be significant in all sectors of transportation including passenger cars and tractor trailers.

These trends will be relevant in collision analysis, accident reconstruction, and vehicle mechanical technology.

  1. Powertrain electrification
  2. Vehicle lightweighting
  3. Connected vehicles
  4. Autonomous vehicles

OLDER VEHICLES

In May of 2023 the average age of sedans and passenger vehicles was 13.6 and 12.5 years respectively, as reported by S&P Global Mobility, with nearly 122 million vehicles more than 12 years old.

ECONOMIC REALITY CHECK

According to Automotive News the average price of a new vehicle is nearly $48,000 with an average payment of $730 per month. High-end pickup trucks and luxury vehicles can exceed $100,000 with monthly payments in excess of $1,000.

OLD & NEW FORENSIC CONCERNS

Older vehicles absolutely require periodic maintenance. Deferred maintenance will result in vehicle performance degradation which will result in more collisions.

New vehicles have significant Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Here are some: Blind Spot Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Pedestrian Automatic Braking, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Each and every one of these ADAS systems, with their respective components, requires proper setup and alignment. OEM Maintenance and Repair Procedures must be followed during the service procedure to be conducted by a trained technician.

If the technician does not know how to fix it, and they do not have the proper tools and equipment, that ADAS system will not work as the manufacturer designed and installed the system into the vehicle. All of these factors are relevant in accident reconstruction and post-collision vehicle analysis.

CONCLUSION

Both old and new vehicles, passenger cars to tractor trailers, have important technical issues which must be thoroughly analyzed during post-collision analysis. Because of this complexity a team approach may be necessary to optimally deal with: 1) driver, 2) vehicle, 3) environment; during A) pre-crash, B) crash, C) post-crash.

Forensic Accident. Com – Photos

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