M adden A ccident A nalysis, I nvestigation,  R econstruction

Forensic Engineering & Scientific Accident Reconstruction over 30 Years Investigating, Analyzing, Reconstructing & Testifying about Accidents working in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and elsewhere in the USA, from Cleveland and Akron, Ohio Contact us at  ?  440-838-0640 or  ?  440-832-9540 or  ?  [email protected] Free Initial Phone Consultation - Fixed Fee Preliminary Accident Evaluation available

Madden Accident Analysis & Forensic Engineering, during a more than 30 year practice in Scientific Traffic Accident Reconstruction, has investigated, analyzed and reconstructed Traffic Accidents in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and a num-ber of other states between Kansas and Connecticut. We are available for Traffic Accident Investigation and Reconstruction work throughout the United States. We have investigated and reconstructed a broad range of accident types, e.g. single-vehicle, multi-vehicle, including two-vehicle, with such collision types as those commonly described as head-on, side-swipe, rear-end, T-bone (perpendi-cular) etc. , and combinations of these collision types, involving a broad range of on-road and off-road vehicles, including automobiles, SUVs, vans, light and heavy trucks, buses, tractor-trailers, motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, bicycles, etc. Collisions investigated, analyzed and reconstructed, in addition to those described above, have included collisions of motor vehicles with  pedestrians, and collisions of railroad trains with bicycles and motor vehicles. Our Accident Reconstruction work has included covering issues with roadway construction (completed or in progress) and roadway condition and mainte-nance. Our work has included consideration of weather, light conditions (daylight, twilight or nighttime), artificial lighting conditions,  human factors and the actions of persons in accidents, the condition of vehicles, and the presence of traffic control, and what this control required and provided, and whether (and how) it aided drivers in driving safely. Our work has included assessment of  the adherence to applicable codes, standards and recommended practices, includ-ing applicable highway and roadway design standards, and vehicle safety stan-dards, etc. We have performed work for both plaintiffs and defendants, in civil and criminal litigation, and other dispute resolution. We are currently available for cases.  Investigations and inspections are a part of our Accident Analyses and Recon-structions. This includes inspections of accident sites, including roadways and road and off-road surfaces, and debris and roadway damage, from hands-on site inspection, and also from study of photographic and video documentation of the accident scene. The site inspections augment (and are integrated with) the evid-ence documented at the accident scene, including the locations of the vehicles at the scene.  Also included are v ehicle inspections, from hands-on inspection to study of photographic and video documentation of the vehicles at the scene and at other times earlier than our hands-on inspection . Scientific Traffic Accident Reconstruction has been performed, as appropriate, in the vicinity of the acci-dents, and also at our offices in the Akron and Cleveland, Ohio areas.  In regard to the results of our work, we provide consultation, expert reports, affi-davits and testimony. T estimony has been provided in depositions, arbitrations, hearings, and in trials, including in Federal court, and in State courts in Ohio and a number of other states from Kansas to Pennsylvania. ?

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Work will involve the following, in part:

?  ?  ?  Engineering Analysis may include analysis of the following: ?  ?  ?  ? 

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*  data from the so-called vehicle "black boxes"

This page also includes the following:

?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ? 

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O ur  Engineering Analysis of Traffic Accidents                ? including Accident Investigation and Reconstruction

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Our Engineering Analysis of Traffic Accidents/Traffic Crashes include, as appropriate,  accident investigation, engineering analysis and reconstruction  of the traffic accident, either manually or by computer, as required to  address the issues . Our engineering analysis of traffic accidents includes analysis of  roadway issues  and analysis of the  effects of pedestrian actions  and  effects of driver actions and inactions .

<< click for a description of the typical activities performed << click for a description of the typical issues addressed << click for a description of the typical work performed << click for examples of Types of traffic accidents analyzed << click for examples of Vehicles and Persons involved in traffic accidents analyzed << click for discussion regarding Highway Standards, Codes, and related material << click for discussion regarding Signs, Signals, Markings and Warnings

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• accident site inspection, measurement and photography

• inspection, measurement and photography of damaged vehicles and vehicle components 

• inspection of vehicle lamps (headlights, taillights, etc.) and lamp filaments, when appropriate

• sight distance and nighttime visibility studies

• skid testing of vehicles and determination of "drag" factors

• accident sight photogrammetry • graphical photogrammetry from photographs

• study and consideration of accident evidence and data available from other sources, including police accident investigations, Crash Data Retrieval from the vehicles, and statements and testimony of witnesses

• evaluation of roadway surface condition, skidmarks, yawmarks, scuff marks, other tiremarks, gouges, other roadway and off-roadway surface damage, and debris

• evaluation of vehicle and vehicle component damage, including evaluation of vehicle lamp and lamp filament condition to determine if lamps were on at collision

• evaluation of mechanical injuries to pedestrians and vehicle occupants

• evaluation of roadway design and pre-accident condition (for safety) and traffic control devices, such as lane lines, warning and other signs, traffic control lights and other signals (for suitability)

• preparation of scale site drawings, and use in accident analysis

• determination of the pre-collision movements of vehicles and pedestrians in relation to time, distance and each other (time-distance studies)

• engineering analysis of the movements (dynamics) of vehicles, pedestrians, and vehicle occupants during an accident, relative to each other, and relative to fixed items in the accident area, such as utility poles

• determination of acceleration and maneuverability capabilities of vehicles, particularly related to possible accident activities

• complete traffic accident reconstruction, both manually and by computer, to address the required issues

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• speeds of vehicles at various points before and during an accident

• locations of vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, etc., before and at various times during an accident

• sight distance, nighttime visibility and weather-impeded visibility

• appropriateness of  roadway design  and  traffic control devices  (such as lane lines, warning and other signs, and traffic control and pedestrian control signals), and their relation to an accident 

• the relation of the  condition of roadway facilities  to an accident, including drainage issues related to water and/or ice on the roadway

• answers to questions, such as: 

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• Were all vehicles moving at collision?  If not, which ones were moving and stopped?

• Did vehicles stop at stop signs or red lights before collision?

• Which vehicle was left of center first, and also at collision?

• Which vehicle occupant was driving when the accident occurred?

• Were the headlights and/or other vehicle lights on at collision?

• What was the accident causation? 

• Did the roadway configuration, construction or condition cause or contribute to the accident?

• What was the relation of the accident factors to the accident causation?

• Could the accident have been avoided by any participant in the accident?

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 E xamples of Types of Traffic Accidents Analyzed                                ? see examples of vehicles and persons involved in analyzed accidents in next section below      

• single vehicle accidents, including going off the roadway and striking fixed items, such as utility  poles

• two vehicle collisions, at various angles, such as:

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• head-on

• rear-end

• sideswipe

• intersection ("t-bone")

• at other impact angles between the vehicles

• accidents involving:

• collisions involving: 

see the sections below for  ?  (a)  examples of vehicles and persons involved in analyzed traffic accidents ?  (b)   discussion of highway codes, standards, design guidelines, etc. ?  (c)  discussion of traffic signs, signals, roadway markings and warnings

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E xamples of Vehicles and Persons Involved in Analyzed Traffic Accidents   ? see examples of types of traffic accidents analyzed in previous section above

• automobiles  •  pick-up trucks • vans • sport utility vehicles (SUVs)   • cars • pickup trucks  

• specialized smaller vehicles, such as ambulances and ambulettes

• motorcycles  • off-road motorbikes • motorcyclists

• bicycles  • bicyclists

• pedestrians  • motorists • vehicle passengers

• school  buses  • city buses 

• railroad trains

• agricultural equipment, including farm tractors and trailers

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• articulated truck assemblies, including:

• trucks with semi-trailers ( tractor-trailers , "18 wheelers") 

• trucks with independently supported trailers ("full trailers")

including  truck-tractors , with trailers such as:

• box trailers

• stake and flatbed trailers

• tanker trailers

• large non-articulated  trucks , including those with:

• tandem (two) rear axles

• triaxle (three) rear axles

including non-articulated trucks such as:

• garbage trucks 

• dump trucks

• tank trucks

see the sections below for  ?  (a)  discussion of highway codes, standards, design guidelines, etc. ?  (b)  discussion of traffic signs, signals, marking and warnings see the section above for  ?  (c)  examples of types of traffic accidents analyzed

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H ighway, Street and Roadside Codes, Standards, Guidelines and Recommended Practices ? also see traffic signs, signals, markings and warnings in the next section below

Roadway design, construction and maintenance is regulated by legislation and codes and standards. These codes and standards are prepared and issued by state and federal authorities. They include  Standards  for highway design, construction and maintenance issued by the various states and the federal government. They are include  Recommended Practices, Guidelines  and Policies issued by the  Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials  (AASHTO), including the Roadside Design Guide and the Policy on the Geometric Design of Highways and Streets. Roadway design, construction and maintenance codes and standards serve different purposes, one of which is to provide roads which are safer than would the case without such standards. Non-conformance with highway design, construction and maintenance standards which are intended to promote a safer roadway can be expected to lead to less safe highways and streets than would otherwise be the case. 

For more information on Codes and Standards click on >>> see the section below for  ?  (a)  discussion of traffic signs,  signals, marking and warnings see the sections above for  ?  (b)  examples of types of traffic accidents analyzed ?  (b)  examples of vehicles and persons involved in analyzed traffic accidents

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T raffic  Signs, Signals, Markings and Warnings ? also see highway, street and roadside codes, standards, guidelines etc. in the previous section above

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The use of Warnings on highways and roadways - in the whole traffic system - is regulated by   legislation and codes and standards for traffic applications. These codes and standards are 

prepared by state and federal authorities and take into consideration the more restricted role that Safeguards can take in use with highways and roadways compared to, for example, stationary machinery. These codes and standards include the  Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices  issued by the various states and the federal government.  These codes and standards, and associated manuals, also take into consideration the significant role that drivers, other users of the roadways and persons who encounter roadways, play in the traffic system. These also take into consideration the long history of the use of written signage, auditory warnings (for example, bells at railroad crossings), symbols on signage and roadway surfaces, and visual control devices (for example, traffic control lights), and the expectations that this long history brings from the public.  Of particular concern is the fact that for this traffic system, to be fully effective, it must be learned by all drivers, in most cases at a relatively early age, and changes cannot be easily communicated to all drivers over the subsequent decades, once they have learned the system.

For more information on Safeguards and Warnings  click on >>> see the sections above for  ?  (a)  examples of types of traffic accidents analyzed ?  (b)  examples of vehicles and persons involved ?  (c)  discussion of highway codes and standards ?  (d)  discussion of traffic signs, signals, marking and warnings

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O ur Typical Work Activities and Products, when warranted by the case Our work investigating, analyzing and reconstructing accidents, and presenting the results, may include any  or all of the following, depending on the needs of the case:  ? inspection of the accident site , such as a roadway, outdoor facilities, building or industrial facilities ? inspection of the involved equipment , in current condition, including in damaged condition (such as crashed vehicles); and when available for operation, during operation (such as industrial equipment) ? photography video  of the accident site and involved equipment ? interviewing witnesses  (often during the inspection of the accident site, product and/or equipment) ? review and study of case documents, evidence and applicable codes, standards, regulations and recommended practices testing  accident items and exemplar items (such as consumer products) ? drawings, calculations, graphical analyses, computer analyses , etc. as required to analyze and reconstruct the accident, and to present the engineering analysis and reconstruction ? reports  and  affidavits , and  exhibits ? coordinating or interfacing with others while they are preparing  specialized exhibits such as video animations and videos of demonstrations ? testimony in deposition , trial and arbitration

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P resentation of results of our work We present the results of our investigations, preliminary evaluations, engineering analyses, reconstructions, etc. in the client's choice of any, or all, of the following:  ? verbal reports , by telephone or in face-to-face conferences ?  written  reports  and  affidavits ? deposition testimony , including video deposition ? trial testimony  and arbitration testimony

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F orensic Engineering Work by Senior Forensic Engineer James D. Madden, P.E.  Forensic Engineering, including Accident Reconstruction, work full-time for more  than  30 years , for both plaintiff and defendant, has * : ?  completed  over 1100 cases ?  written and issued  over 700 reports ?  written and issued  over 70 affidavits For more on qualifications click on >>>

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Q ualifications of James D. Madden, P.E., Senior Forensic Engineer

The qualifications of James D. Madden, P.E., Senior Forensic Engineer,  Consulting and Testifying Forensic Engineer  and  Accident Reconstruction Engineer , are listed above on this page and in additional detail on the  Qualifications Page .   <<< Click on the underlined text

D ownloads and Links -  Curriculum Vitae, Email

Download a Summary or Detailed  Curriculum Vitae (CV) / Resume'  for James D. Madden, P.E., email us at [email protected]

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C ontact information F ee Schedule

Contact us by phone, fax, mail or email for a copy of the Fee Schedule for charges for engineering and consulting services and testimony.  Click a button below for contact information.

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G eographic Area of Work - North America

Over the last 30 years we have regularly worked on accidents which occurred in  Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York and nearby , including inspections of accident sites, equipment, and facilities, with reports and testimony. During these 30 years we have also worked on accidents which occurred in  other states , and equipment and facilities located in other states, with inspections of accident sites, equipment, and facilities,  from Kansas and Utah to Vermont and North Carolina ,  with reports and testimony for these accidents, when applicable.

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Madden Accident Analysis,   Investigation, Reconstruction

Madden Accident Analysis, Investigation, Reconstruction 1700 West Market Street, Suite 318, Akron, Ohio 44313 or contact us for our Cleveland Ohio address phone: 440-838-0640 or 440-832-9540, fax: 440-838-1192 email address: [email protected]

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