Forensic Experts http://www.forensicdjs.com Fri, 25 May 2012 14:53:48 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.forensicdjs.com/images/M_images/rss-logo.jpg http://www.forensicdjs.com Forensic Experts forensicdjshttp://feedburner.google.com http://www.forensicdjs.com/djs-announcements/djs-introduces-24-hour-emergency-response-app-for-mobile-phone.html DJS is pleased to provide you with our 24-hour emergency response team contact information via an App for your phone. Please contact Joy S. Falk, VP for instructions on downloading the App. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:28:22 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/case-studies/the-frozen-turkey-and-the-plastic-grocery-bag.html Richard F. Lynch, Ph. D, Metallurgy Materials Science :::: Case Synopsis: The plaintiff received a free turkey from a major supermarket chain. The bag had been vacuum packed in its own plastic bag, with a metal clip at the bottom. The package had been placed in a store T-Shirt design plastic bag by the check-out clerk before handing it over to the plaintiff. When the plaintiff was lifting the frozen turkey out of her vehicle, the store-supplied plastic bag tore at the seam in the bottom. The frozen turkey fell on her toe and caused injury. The plaintiff held the supermarket chain solely responsible for her injuries. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:24:10 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/case-studies/predemolition-fall-common-scenario.html Jon J. Pina, MS, CSP, Safety, Health, Environmental :::: Case Synopsis: While walking through the building, a company official was instantly killed when the stairwell he was descending collapsed. He was there to observe existing asbestos containing materials in preparation to complete a bid. His partner was following him and witnessed the unexpected, and unfortunate, event. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:21:31 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/case-studies/evaluating-testimony-in-a-motorcycle/pothole-collision.html Curt M. Beloy, P.E.; Motorcycle Safety / Collision Reconstruction :::: Case Synopsis: A motorcyclist lost control of his motorcycle, resulting in a single-vehicle crash. No other vehicles were nearby. The motorcyclist alleged that a pothole, adjacent to a manhole cover, was the reason for his loss of control. He brought suit over the governing authority of the roadway claiming the roadway irregularity was a contributing factor. While being deposed, he testified to the specific interaction between his motorcycle and the pothole, as well as the resulting collision dynamics. Specifically, he testified that the front wheel of the motorcycle became “trapped” in the pothole, as he drove over it, and was subsequently projected over the handlebars. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:19:04 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/djs-announcements/school-bus-safety-an-on-going-national-issue.html R. Scott King, BSME, Automotive / Mechanical Engineer :::: School bus crashes, no matter how minor, seem to have a way of occupying the lead story of the local evening news: and for good reason. Just ask any parent that has watched their child board a bus if they have ever worried for their child’s safety. Of course they have. So when incidents do occur, it is no wonder why public interest is so high. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:09:02 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/djs-announcements/six-surprising-strategies-for-summer-swimming-safety.html Dr. Tom Griffiths, Ed.D :::: With the summer swimming season fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to talk about safety strategies around the water. Thousands of infants, children, teens, adults and elders burst through the pool gates each summer with fun on their minds. At its best, a pool is a fun-filled, memory-making splashing good time. At its worst, it can be a water-filled basin of potential problems. The grave reality is that any body of water can easily take a life. Too often, water safety takes a reactive rescue and resuscitation approach. However, proactive prevention should be emphasized so that rescue and resuscitation are not necessary. Fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children 1 to 14 years old. There’s hope - lives also can easily be protected and drowning prevented. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:05:04 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/djs-industry-news/ruling-impacts-access-to-on-board-computer-data-retrieval.html R. Scott King, BSME: Automotive / Mechanical Engineer :::: Later this year, an important, long-awaited ruling by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA 49 CFR Part 563) will take effect requiring auto manufacturers to provide public access to crash and other incident-related data recorded by on-board computers. Bosch, LLC has been the primary developer and provider of the equipment and software required to access such event data for over ten years. General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, and several others are among the manufacturers currently supported by the Bosch system. In anticipation of Part 563, Bosch has added Honda passenger vehicles to its list of supported vehicles. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:59:31 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/djs-announcements/djs-expands-commercial-truck-data-imaging-capabilities.html R. Scott King, BSME / Automotive Engineer :::: Judicious use of advanced technology in vehicular collision investigation and reconstruction ensures efficient and effective results. DJS Associates is constantly evaluating emerging concepts, trends, and equipment to remain an industry leader in technological innovation. That is why we are pleased to announce an important new extension of our existing Commercial Truck Event Data Recorder (EDR) imaging capabilities. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:55:25 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/djs-announcements/curtis-m.-beloy-pe-discusses-proper-operation-handling-of-motorcycles.html Curt’s Corner: Did you know… Motorcycles traditionally come equipped with independent front and rear brakes. The front brake is capable of generating more “stopping power” compared to the rear brake. The reason for this is that the weight of the motorcycle and rider shifts forward as they decelerate and the additional weight on the front tire allows for increased traction with the roadway. Some motorcyclist can apply the front brake to the extent where the front tire carries the entire weight of the motorcycle and operator while braking. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:52:50 +0100 http://www.forensicdjs.com/djs-industry-news/event-data-recorders-past-present-and-future.html R. Scott King, BSME / Automotive Engineer :::: It has been well over a decade since the introduction of the event data recorder (EDR) in passenger vehicles and light trucks. General Motors was the first notable manufacturer to publicly disclose its use of this relatively new technology and its announcement made headlines. The attention came not from the announcement itself; but, from the details. Specifically, the American public first became aware that many of the vehicles already being driven for years already had the ability to monitor how the vehicle was being operated. Generally associated with airbag deployment events, the first EDRs recorded relatively few driver-controlled parameters such as seat belt use; however, the newest vehicles were capable of monitoring and storing significantly more data, such as vehicle speed, in the few seconds before a collision. Indeed, this was the parameter that turned heads. Now for the first time - and whether they wanted it or not - motorists had an independent electronic witness riding along with them ready and able to provide detailed pre-crash data describing actions such as speed, braking, and accelerator control. In the years that followed, other manufacturers such as Ford, Chrysler, and most recently Toyota, have adopted EDR technology. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:49:33 +0100