January 20, 2009
Reconstructing a Multi-Car Accident
CED Can Help With CLE Classes and Other Training
Meet the Expert: George Wharton, P.E., C.F.E.I.
Reconstructing a Multi-Car Accident
 Vehicular accident reconstructions are conducted by CED experts to answer questions regarding an accident, such as position of the vehicles before, during and after the accident, who was driving, where were the victims seated, were they wearing seat belts or did a specific item cause injury to a victim. So how does an expert answer these questions when asked to reconstruct a 17-vehicle pile-up four years after the accident occurred? Only CED engineers, out of 13 defendant experts, took on the challenge and through their time and efforts accomplished such a feat.
The accident occurred on a major highway during normal operating hours. It began when a semi-tractor trailer jack-knifed while trying to avoid a vehicle in the middle of the road. The accident involved semi-tractor trailers, one straight truck, cars and pickup trucks.
With such an accident of this magnitude, CED performed a detailed site inspection, as even after four years, the roadway was not considerably changed. CED engineers reviewed exemplar vehicles, police reports with photographs and measurements, accident victim and witness statements, depositions and interrogatories. After intense investigation, two-dimensional time stepped diagrams (utilized for event sequencing), models of the accident scene and the vehicles involved, CED experts concluded our client's semi-trailer truckload of coils did not damage vehicles involved in the pile-up as the plaintiffs' claimed. CED engineers provided guidance and clarification in the courtroom everyday to the attorney's on various evidence and witness testimony because CED was capable of understanding the details regarding the entire accident through investigation and reconstruction.
This accident reconstruction proves that visiting the accident scene along with reviewing high quality photographs, documentation and preserving the evidence can help improve your chances of winning a case or at the very least, limiting your liability.
CED Can Help With CLE Classes and Other Training
It is that time of year again… time to ponder the requirements, benefits and costs of training staff. Professional development of staff is a worthy cause and a critical piece to vision of long-term goal for growing people. In a questionable economy, training costs and the time it takes to train are some of the first expenses to be cut. However, CED can help. Our staff provides complementary training (CLE's & CE's) to clients and potential clients. Below are samples of training topics CED has presented:
1. Working with Engineering Experts in Litigation
2. Human Factors in the Workplace & Courtroom
3. Accident Reconstruction
4. Premises Liability – An Engineering Expert's Perspective
5. First Responder– Capturing & Understanding the Evidence
6. Engineering Experts Role in Product Liability Cases
There are several benefits by having an engineering expert deliver training. Attendees can learn new and different strategies to attack claims and cases from the content delivered and case studies presented. Because CED delivers a discussion type presentation style, questions may be answered by a credible source whom has a wealth of experience to share. Oftentimes, the training facilitates a healthy training interaction between the senior and junior staff attending – something not usually done as most professionals are too busy to set aside time for in house training.
CED offers several delivery options that are typically customized to the client's needs. The training can be qualified as a Continuing Legal Education (CLE), Continuing Education (CE), or simply an engineering expert capabilities briefing. Training can also be conducted over lunch, in the client's conference room.
Clients are encouraged to contact CED to explore the opportunity to conduct a complementary training session.
Meet the Expert: George Wharton, P.E., C.F.E.I.
 Mr. George Wharton crossed paths with CED when he was the corporate representative in a product liability suit. The resulting mutual respect led to Mr. Wharton joining CED as a specialist for industrial accidents in the Western Office.
Mr. Wharton graduated from The Ohio State University with both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. At Ohio State, his studies emphasized machine design and robotics and he performed research on force feedback for adaptive walking machines.
Mr. Wharton worked initially for the Lighting Business of General Electric as a research and project engineer designing and installing lamp manufacturing equipment. After GE, Mr. Wharton worked for Nutro Corporation for 15 years, serving as the engineering and quality system manager and then into corporate roles that included engineering, production, sales and marketing. Nutro is a turnkey systems house designing, manufacturing and installing custom print finishing systems. Notable clients include Alcoa, Baldor, Bosch, Fanuc, Kohler and TRW among many others.
Mr. Wharton is a registered professional engineer in seven states and is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, Certified Crash Data Retrieval System Analyst and a Certified Training Instructor for Aerial Work Platforms and Rough-Terrain Forklifts.
He is also a member of the American Society for Mechanical Engineers, the National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists, the National Association of Fire Investigators, the National Fire Protection Association and the Society of Automotive Engineers.
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