Qualified Expertise for Your Specific Need
The firm’s engineers, architect, scientists and veterinarian have “hands-on” professional experience. Our team provides expertise including the areas listed below.
Accident Reconstruction
We approach automobile, truck, motorcycle, bus, heavy vehicle, and bicycle accidents using accident reconstruction in a comprehensive manner. The dynamics of an automobile accident involve a number of factors including driver action/inaction, the tire-pavement interaction, vehicle systems operations, roadway geometry, and the roadside border area among other factors. If possible, we retrieve and analyze crash data from the on-board computer of vehicles that were involved in collisions or other accidents. The ability to understand the interrelationship between all the factors and properly interpret the physical evidence is critical to a successful reconstruction.
- Perception-Reaction Time
- Crash Data Analysis
- The Driving Task
- Sight Distance
- Weather
- Road Surface and Conditions
- Lighting and Illumination
- Vehicle Systems
- Crush Damage
- Skid Marks, Gouges and Yaw Marks
- Pavement-Tire Interactions
- Commercial Vehicle Operations
- Hours of Service Law
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
- Statutory Vehicle Laws
- Speed, Time, and Distance
- Vehicle Examination
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Accident Reconstruction
We approach automobile, truck, motorcycle, bus, heavy vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle accidents using accident reconstruction in a comprehensive manner. The dynamics of an automobile accident involve a number of factors including driver action/inaction, the tire-pavement interaction, vehicle systems operations, roadway geometry, and the roadside border area among other factors. If possible, we retrieve and analyze crash data from the on-board computer of vehicles that were involved in collisions or other accidents. The ability to understand the interrelationship between all the factors and properly interpret the physical evidence is critical to a successful reconstruction.
- Perception-Reaction Time
- Crash Data Analysis
- The Driving Task
- Sight Distance
- Weather
- Road Surface and Conditions
- Lighting and Illumination
- Vehicle Systems
- Crush Damage
- Skid Marks, Gouges and Yaw Marks
- Pavement-Tire Interactions
- Commercial Vehicle Operations
- Hours of Service Law
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
- Statutory Vehicle Laws
- Speed, Time, and Distance
- Vehicle Examination
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Bathtub & Shower Safety
Bathing facilities represent a complicated environment that can result in accidents involving defective shower doors, scalding incidents and slips and falls in bathtubs, showers, and bathrooms.
Evaluation of specific bathtub and shower hazards allows us to make appropriate determinations of cause and responsibility.
Experts
Brian E. Beatty, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
Michael A. Sapienza
Building Safety, Maintenance Failures & Distress
Building components can fail or deteriorate due to many factors ranging from environmental issues such as weather exposure and flooding to man-made factors such as inadequate construction techniques and materials to deferred or defective maintenance. Proper evaluation of the failure or distress allows us to make appropriate determinations of cause and responsibility.
- Roof and wall water Infiltration
- Groundwater flooding
- Surface water flooding
- Defective construction materials
- Defective workmanship
- Deferred workmanship
- Structural Failures
- Roof and Floor collapses
- Construction excavation and shoring
- Sink holes and ground subsidence
- Wind and Storm damages
- Exterior Insulated Finish systems (EIFS), stucco and masonry
- Subgrade conditions
- Roof, Wall and Floor collapses
- Construction excavation, shoring and trenching
- General construction material failures
Experts
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Thom J. McAdams
Richard H. Toland, Ph.D., P.E.
Codes, Standards & Regulations
Codes, Standards and Regulations vary by adoption across political jurisdictions and also through time. Fleisher Forensics’ extensive library of historical Codes, Standards and references allows us to make evaluations of litigation and claim matters using appropriate historical and current Codes.
- Building Code evaluation
- Practices and Standards used in various Industry Sectors
- Federal Regulations that govern the workplace such as OSHA
- Traffic and Highway Design Regulations
- State and locally adopted regulations and codes
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
Brian E. Beatty, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Thom J. McAdams
Richard H. Toland, Ph.D., P.E.
Construction Safety, Accidents & Liability
Our experts regularly evaluate accidents involving falls through floor and roof openings, along floor and platform edges, from scaffolding and construction equipment, from electrocutions and from ladders. Other evaluations include workers and the public hit by falling objects and materials during demolition, construction and completed stages. Examples of construction liability and claim evaluations include:
- Barricades
- Building Failures and Distress
- Cave-ins
- Code Enforcement
- Codes, Standards and Regulations
- Commercial Facilities
- Construction Safety and Accidents
- Demolition
- Retention/Demolition Basins
- Edges of Floors and Roofs
- EIFS (Exterior Insulated Finish System)
- Equipment Failures
- Failure Analysis
- Fences
- Fitness Facilities
- Floor Failures
- Floors
- Footings and Foundations
- Framing
- Garages
- Guarding
- Guiderails
- Handrails
- Healthcare Facilities
- Highways and Streets
- Holes
- Industrial Plants
- Insulation
- Ladders
- Leakage
- Lift Equipment Operation
- Loading and Unloading of Materials
- Manufacturing Plants
- Mechanical Systems
- Metals, Plastics and Materials
- Municipal Facilities
- Office Buildings
- Openings in Floors and Roofs
- Parking Lots
- Pedestrian Incidents
- Power Plants
- Rain
- Residential Facilities
- Retention / Detention Basins
- Roofing
- Roofs
- Scaffolds
- Schools and Universities
- Shopping Centers
- Slip-Trip-Fall Evaluations
- Sports Flooring
- Stairways
- Storm Drainage, Flooding and Ice
- Structural Failures
- Stucco
- Temporary Construction Facilities
- Traffic Controls and Safety
- Trenches
- Utility Construction
- Walkway Surfaces
- Water Damage
- Water Filtration
- Wind
- Work Zones
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
Brian E. Beatty, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Thom J. McAdams
Richard H. Toland, Ph.D., P.E.
Equipment & Machinery
A critical factor in the design of Industrial equipment and machinery is the application of machine guarding. OSHA and ANSI standards provide the foundation for ensuring workers are protected from moving machine parts and point of operation hazards. Fleisher Forensics engineers are experts in evaluating machinery and machine guarding for compliance with industry standards.
Experts
Brian E. Beatty, P.E.
Failure Analysis
Failure analyses of products, materials, machines and structures, etc. requires technical expertise to analyze and identify the root cause of the failures and recommend corrective actions. Our dedicated team of experts have performed numerous failure analysis investigations for a diverse range of subjects including:
- Appliances
- Automobiles and trucks
- Building failures
- Building products and systems
- Chairs
- Consumer products
- Construction equipment/Construction site
- Doors – Manual/Automatic/Door Closers/Overhead Rollup
- Dock levelers
- Flooring
- Industrial equipment and machine guarding
- Medical equipment
- Metals and plastic material products
- Powered industrial vehicles
- Power tools
- Recreational products
- Scaffolds
- Storage racks
- Walkway surfaces
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
Brian E. Beatty, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Thom J. McAdams
Michael A. Sapienza
Flooring Materials
Flooring is something we take for granted, until there is a failure. Flooring failures can be complicated to resolve as there are several factors that need to be carefully evaluated both individually and as part of the overall flooring system. The ability to fully understand the interactions based upon the physical environment becomes the crucial task for a successful resolution.
- Choice of Flooring Type
- Application to Environment
- Performance Under Use Conditions
- Installation Methods
- Materials Utilized
- Expertise of Installation Crew
- Conformance to Specifications – ASTM, ANSI, Industry
- Conformance to Standards – ASTM, ANSI, Industry
- Expectation Versus Usage
- Conditions of Site
- During Installation
- During Usage
- Subfloor Construction
- Physical Environment
- Catastrophic Occurrences
Experts
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Michael Sapienza
Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical engineering is the design and understanding of the behavior of soils under the influence of loading forces and soil-water interactions. These concepts are applied to the design of foundations, retaining walls, dams, slopes, and geosynthetics. Geotechnical engineering designs range from foundations of structures and temporary excavation support, through railways and highways, to landfills. As such, the geotechnical engineer is involved in field and laboratory investigations to determine the engineering properties of site soils and other geomaterials and their subsequent use in the analytical study of the problem at hand.
- Settlement/Subsidence of structures
- Sinkholes
- Landslides/Slope stability
- Roadway design
- Pavement failures/Subgrade support
- Retaining Wall failures
- Groundwater infiltration
- Hydrostatic pressure damage
- Effects of flooding on structures
- Excavation stabilization
- Dredging design/stability
Highway Construction & Claims
Highways accidents and claims may involve new construction, reconstruction, maintenance or existing conditions. Highway accidents involve pedestrians, drivers and construction workers. Each highway may pose different geometry, operating, traffic controls, pavement markings or work zone conditions. The practical experience of our highway and traffic experts provides you with a sound understanding of the applicability of codes, standards and industry practices.
- Bidding documents, plans and specifications
- Construction Claims and Safety
- Commercial Vehicle and heavy equipment operations
- Construction means and methods
- Construction task sequencing
- Construction vehicle access
- Construction Management and Inspection
- Department of Transportation standards and requirements
- Driveways and haul roads
- Intersections
- Lighting
- Materials
- OSHA regulations
- Professional Liability
- Signage, Traffic Controls and Markings
- Supplements and change orders
- Utility accommodation and control
- Vehicle, pedestrian and construction personnel accidents
- Work hours
Highway Construction & Claims
Highways accidents and claims may involve new construction, reconstruction, maintenance or existing conditions. Highway accidents involve pedestrians, drivers and construction workers. Each highway may pose different geometry, operating, traffic controls, pavement markings or work zone conditions. The practical experience of our highway and traffic experts provides you with a sound understanding of the applicability of codes, standards and industry practices.
- Bidding documents, plans and specifications
- Construction Claims and Safety
- Commercial Vehicle and heavy equipment operations
- Construction means and methods
- Construction task sequencing
- Construction vehicle access
- Construction Management and Inspection
- Department of Transportation standards and requirements
- Driveways and haul roads
- Intersections
- Lighting
- Materials
- OSHA regulations
- Professional Liability
- Signage, Traffic Controls and Markings
- Supplements and change orders
- Utility accommodation and control
- Vehicle, pedestrian and construction personnel accidents
- Work hours
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
Thomas J. McAdams
Industrial & Plant Safety
Industrial accidents are preventable. Lack of training and/or breakdown in safety processes and procedures often cause or contribute to the cause of industrial accidents. Our experts have real world experience working in industrial facilities that facilitates an understanding of plant safety requirements and safety codes and standards such as OSHA, NFPA, NEC.
Metals, Plastics & Materials
The failure of a material in a product, whether it was made of metal, plastic or other, may show definitive indications at the fracture site of the cause of the failure. Failures in materials may be caused by fatigue, overheating, corrosion or overloading. Fleisher Forensics experts in material science have the experience and knowledge to analyze material failures to determine the root cause.
Experts
Brian E. Beatty, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
Richard H. Toland, Ph.D., P.E.
Parking Lots
For most of us, our vehicles spend more time parked than moving. Parking lots are unique environments that should balance mobility and safety of both pedestrians and vehicles. Parking lots exist to fulfill a need and service other establishments. Factors that contribute to the functionality and overall safety of parking lots include:
- Parking Lot Layout and Geometry
- Parking Space Size
- Driving Lane Width
- Parking Lot Signage
- Parking Lot Pavement Markings
- Parking Lot Access
- Intersection Control
- Parking Lot Lighting
- Parking Lot Pavement Design
- Parking Lot Maintenance
- ADA Compliance
- Pedestrian Amenities
- Storm Water Management
- Snow And Ice Control
- Parking Garages and Parking Structures
- Islands and Curbing
- Wheel Stops and Bollards
- Emergency Vehicle Access and Fire Zones
- Compliance With Codes, Standards, and Regulations.
- Traffic Claiming
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
Pedestrian Incidents
Pedestrian facilities are an essential part of the everyday built environment. The appropriate evaluation of pedestrian incidents can require various disciplines depending on the circumstances. At Fleisher Forensics we have the team of Engineers and Architects with the experience and expertise to evaluate different types of pedestrian incidents.
- Slips, Trips, and Falls
- Maintenance and Repair Issues
- Traffic Safety and Design
- Slip Resistance Testing and Evaluation
- Code Compliance of Walkway Surfaces
- Snow and Ice Treatment and Removal Procedures
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
Brian E. Beatty, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Premises Liability
Premises liability matters involve an incident that occurs on a property that was caused by an unsafe or dangerous condition. Through investigation and research, your expert will evaluate the conditions of the property that caused or contributed to the incident. Those conditions are then compared to the codes, standards, and practices of the industry to determine whether they met the standard of care, and, if applicable, which parties were responsible for the incident. Our experts have experience in civil, structural, and mechanical engineering; walkway design and safety, residential and commercial construction, parking lot design, and more. We maintain an extensive collection of testing equipment, including tribometers (slip-testing equipment), surveying tools, and light meters.
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
Brian E. Beatty, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Michael A. Sapienza
Richard H. Toland, Ph.D., P.E.
Product Liability
Products are determined to be defective if there existed a reasonable risk of harm to the consumer using the product and necessary precautions were not taken by the manufacturer of the product to prevent the harm. Fleisher Forensics experts have evaluated numerous accidents that were caused by defective products including:
- Automobile components
- Appliances
- Building products
- Chairs
- Commercial and industrial equipment
- Consumer goods
- Flooring products
- Hunting tree stands
- HVAC equipment
- Medical equipment
- Personal watercraft
- Plumbing products
- Power tools
- Recreational products
- Shower doors
Professional Liability
At Fleisher Forensics, our professional engineers, registered architect, and veterinarian evaluate litigation, claims, and disputes for their respective specialties.
- ADA
- Agreements
- Architectural Claims
- Building Failures & Distress
- Building products & systems
- Change order claims
- Civil Engineering
- Code Enforcement
- Codes, Standards and Regulations
- Construction Claims
- Construction Management and Administration
- Construction Safety and Accidents
- Contract Disputes
- Defective Work Claims
- Delay Claims
- Design Claims
- Engineering Claims
- Errors or Omissions Claims
- Flooring Claims & Analysis
- Highways, Streets and Parking Lots
- Machine Guarding
- Mechanical Engineering
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Scope of Work
- Structural Engineering
- Structural Failures
- Termination Claims
- Traffic Controls and Devices
- Walkway Surfaces
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
Brian E. Beatty, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
Dr. Melissa R. Goldberg, DVM
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Property Damage
Building Components and materials can fail or deteriorate and cause damage due to factors ranging from ongoing weather exposure and flooding to man-made factors such as inadequate construction techniques and materials to deferred or defective maintenance. Fleisher Forensics can evaluate the failure, distress and damages and make appropriate determinations of cause, responsibility and correction.
- Onsite and Adjacent Construction
- Effects from Waterproofing System Failures (Roof and Walls)
- Rain, Snow and Wind Effects
Experts
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Thomas J. McAdams
Roadway Design & Safety
Roadways require proper design and guidance for both motorists and pedestrians. Roadway users have an expectation that the facilities are properly designed, constructed, and demarcated to provide safe and efficient passage. An important part of the design and guidance is attention to the entire highway corridor, including those areas outside the edge of the paved surface. We provide an all-encompassing approach when analyzing matters involving roadway systems.
- Clear Zones
- Sight Distances
- Accidents (Vehicle, Pedestrian and Construction)
- Roadway Geometry
- Horizontal and Vertical Curvature
- Roadway Profile, Grades, and Cross Section
- Guiderails, Guardrails, and Barriers
- Intersections and Driveways
- Interstate Highways and Interchanges
- Traffic Islands, Medians, and Gores
- Pedestrian and vehicle accessibility/ADA Compliance
- Roadway Drainage
- Trails
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities
- Crosswalks and Other Pavement Markings
- Roadside Areas
- Utilities and Utility Poles
- Traffic Signals
- Highway Lighting
Sinkholes
Sinkholes account for millions of dollars annually of damage to roads, buildings and other structures. In many cases, sinkhole activity, when undetected and/or untreated, leads to subsidence, undermining of foundations, sudden collapse of structures, or breaching of pipelines.
Causes
Sinkholes can form when natural water-drainage patterns are changed and new water-diversion systems are developed. This can be caused by:
- Concentration of surface water
- Changes in site grading
- Construction of stormwater runoff detention and retention ponds
- Groundwater pumping and mismanagement of stormwater runoff
- Stream re-alignment
Preliminary Site Evaluation
Review of published data of existing geologic conditions, including a thorough review of such data as:
- Topographic maps
- Geology maps
- Sinkhole maps
- Aerial photographs
- Previous geotechnical studies of the site or surrounding sites
Subsurface Exploration Program
Preliminary evaluation results are analyzed to determine whether additional exploration is warranted including:
- Test pits
- Test borings
- Smoke Testing
- Dye Testing
- Geophysical testing
Experts
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Sinkholes
Sinkholes account for millions of dollars annually of damage to roads, buildings and other structures. In many cases, sinkhole activity, when undetected and/or untreated, leads to subsidence, undermining of foundations, sudden collapse of structures, or breaching of pipelines.
Causes
Sinkholes can form when natural water-drainage patterns are changed and new water-diversion systems are developed. This can be caused by:
- Concentration of surface water
- Changes in site grading
- Construction of stormwater runoff detention and retention ponds
- Groundwater pumping and mismanagement of stormwater runoff
- Stream re-alignment
Preliminary Site Evaluation
Review of published data of existing geologic conditions, including a thorough review of such data as:
- Topographic maps
- Geology maps
- Sinkhole maps
- Aerial photographs
- Previous geotechnical studies of the site or surrounding sites
Subsurface Exploration Program
Preliminary evaluation results are analyzed to determine whether additional exploration is warranted including:
- Test pits
- Test borings
- Smoke Testing
- Dye Testing
- Geophysical testing
Experts
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Slip Resistance
Slip resistance evaluations may involve pedestrian movement, environmental conditions, walkway surface characteristics, footwear condition and different measuring devices. At Fleisher Forensics, we own several different types of slip resistance test equipment, known as “Tribometers”. Our experts are experienced with their operation, application and limitations, and their associated standards.
- ASTM reference surfaces
- BOT-3000E
- C1028 Tribometer
- English XL Tribometer
- Mark I Tribometer
- Mark II Tribometer
- Mark IIIb Tribometer
- Walkway Surfaces
- Construction Surfaces
- Footwear Condition
- Gait Mechanics
- Standards
Experts
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Michael Sapienza
Stormwater Management, Storm Drainage & Flooding
The ability to reasonably manage stormwater in our built environment is fundamental to maintaining use of these constructed facilities and the safety of the users. Runoff, drainage and flooding can lead to ice formation on walkways and pavements, damage to facilities, loss of use and potential adverse impacts to the users. We evaluate the nature, cause or causes of runoff, drainage and flooding in litigation and claim matters.
- Standards, Codes and Regulations
- Flood Cause Analysis
- Stormwater Management Design Evaluation
- Best Management Practices (BMP)
- National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
- Flood Hazard Areas
- Coastal Zone Impacts
- Elevation Certification
- Building Design
- Flood Plains
- Floodways
- Flood Fringe areas
- Community Impacts
- Flood Hazard evacuation routes
- Floodplain Management
- Levees, Dikes and Dams
- Inlets, Culverts and piping
- Flood Hazard Mitigation
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Structural Failures
Structural Failures and collapses from demolition, deterioration, overload, soils or ground conditions, or weather events, commonly involve buildings, roofs, bridges, pavements, foundation systems, towers or walls. Structural failures can begin with a minor part or section of a larger structure leading to a domino effect. A proper evaluation into structural failures involves driving down into the root cause(s) of the ultimate failure. Fleisher Forensics has performed evaluations of structural failures for a wide variety of matters including:
- Traffic control devices
- Buildings
- Houses
- Industrial Machinery
- Walls
- Roofs
- Floors
- Bulkheads
- Retaining Walls
- Bridges
- Roads
- Elevated Walkways/Boardwalks
- Signs and Billboards
- Platforms
- Parking garages and parking structures
Experts
Brian E. Beatty, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Thom J. McAdams
Traffic Controls & Safety
Traffic controls guide road users and pedestrians as they navigate the built environment. The consistent application of uniform traffic control devices is one of the fundamental foundations of safety on our streets and highways. National and local standards guide the design, application, and installation of our traffic control devices.
- Traffic Signs – Regulatory Signs, Warning Signs, Guide Signs, Information Signs
- Pavement Markings
- Traffic Signals
- Pedestrian Control Signals
- School Zone Traffic Control
- Railroad Crossing Traffic Control
- Traffic Control Device Responsibility
- Traffic Control Device Installation and Maintenance
- Traffic Control Device Regulation
Veterinary Medicine
Many of us treat our pets like family, but we can forget that they are indeed animals, and their behavior is not always predictable. Fleisher Forensics can help assess the behavior of dogs and cats. We are experts in evaluating animals’ body language and investigating the breed tendencies, health and behavioral history, and history and actions of pet animals.
Examples of concerns involving animals include:
- Human injury inflicted by a dog or cat
- Animal injury inflicted by a dog or cat
- Pet aggression
- Pet enclosure failure
- Pet owner responsibility
- Pet facility responsibility
- Property damage done by a pet
Experts
Dr. Melissa R. Goldberg, DVM
Walkway Surfaces
The built environment contains many different types and materials of walkway surfaces, from exterior sidewalk and paving to interior carpeting, vinyl tiles and stone floors. Fleisher Forensics stands ready with a team of Material Scientists, Architects and Engineers to evaluate walkway surface materials, conditions, slip resistance and appropriateness of use for all types of walkways.
- Walkway Surface Failures
- Maintenance Issues
- Slip Resistance testing and evaluation
- Maintenance of Walkway Surfaces
- Appropriateness of material use on walkway Surfaces
- Evaluation of Cleaning Products used on Walkway Surfaces
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Winter Liability & Claims
Changing conditions in the winter months can present situations and claims that require expert evaluation. Ice formation can occur under a variety of circumstances and can cause incidents ranging from pedestrian slips to catastrophic auto accidents. Winter Liability matters involve the evaluation of the physical site conditions, meteorological data, snow and ice prevention and treatment program, snow removal/ice treatment records, training techniques, property inspection records, drainage analysis, and historical imagery.
- Roof Failures and Building collapses
- Slips and falls on ice or snow
- Snow removal practices and procedures
- Snow and ice removal and treatment programs and procedures
- Salting application rates and procedures
- Proper use of snow removal apparatus
- Timing of snow and ice removal
- De-icing chemicals
- Training for snow and ice removal personnel
- Freeze/Thaw failures and pavement heaving
- Highway accidents
- Drainage, Flooding and Ice Accumulations
- Professional Liability
Experts
Jared E. Barket, P.E.
Lee L. Elsey, AIA
David H. Fleisher, P.E.
David J. Littlewood, P.E.
Thomas J. McAdams
Work Zone Traffic Control & Safety
Controlling the movement of vehicles through work zones and construction sites is not only essential for the safety of road users and pedestrians, but also the construction workers within these zones. Proper design and implementation of work zone traffic control can provide for safe and efficient passage for vehicles and pedestrians while allowing construction to progress. Each highway work zone is unique and we are able to provide analysis on matters that occur within them.
- National and Local Standards and Requirements
- Work Zone Traffic Control – Design, Implementation, Device Maintenance
- Traffic Control Layout
- Traffic Control Signage
- Traffic Control Pavement Markings
- Barriers and Work Zone Protection
- Temporary Traffic Signals
- Accidents (Vehicle, Pedestrian, and Construction)
Services for Litigation & Claims
When a matter warrants an evaluation, a report, or testimony, our professionals exhibit excellent written and oral communication skills required to express complex concepts in understandable terms. When called upon, our professionals work “one-on-one” with our clients, providing assistance in the following areas.
- Code enforcement file research
- Codes & Regulations
- Construction practices
- Cross examination
- Deposition support
- Discovery questions
- Engineering, Architectural & Scientific terms and practices
- Evidence preservation
- Exhibit preparation
- Inspections of sites & evidence
- Interfacing with other consultants
- Laboratory examinations
- Municipal file review
- Municipality document searches
- Photography
- Expert report & testimony analysis
- Research
- Review of materials
- Site examinations
- Standards & Practices
- Technical documents
- Testimony
- Testing: examples include: slip resistance, bath tubs and showers, metallurgical, materials, chemical, concrete, flooring, lighting and hardness
- Trial support & assistance
Liabilities & Claims
When accidents occur, Fleisher Forensics’ experts can help you determine who is responsible by providing a detailed and thorough forensic investigation, evaluation and report when requested. We have a team of veteran analysts that can help you decide the right course of action for liabilities & claims whatever your situation.
Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Municipal Properties
Our Premises Liability experts have hands-on experience in design, construction, inspection and maintenance of facilities, and serve on national committees in standards development. Our experts assess matters for plaintiff and defense attorneys, insurance companies, sports teams, utility companies, industry and government entities including the areas listed below.
- ADA
- Balconies
- Bars
- Bathroom Safety
- Bathtub slip resistance ranking
- Building Failures and Distress
- Casinos
- Code Enforcement
- Codes, Standards and Regulations
- Commercial
- Doors
- Flooring Claims and Analysis
- Garage Doors
- Guardrails
- Handrails
- Highways and Streets
- Hospitals
- Industrial
- Municipal Facilities
- Nursing Homes
- Overhead Doors
- Parking Lots and Garages
- Platforms
- Porches
- Ramps
- Residential
- Restaurants
- Retail
- Schools
- Sharp Edges
- Sidewalks
- Slip Resistance
- Slip-Trip-Fall Evaluations
- Sports Venues
- Stairs
- Storm Drainage, Flooding and Ice
- Structural Failures
- Supermarkets
- Transportation
- Universities
- Walkway Surfaces
- Walkways
- Work Zones
Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Municipal Properties
Our Premises Liability experts have hands-on experience in design, construction, inspection and maintenance of facilities, and serve on national committees in standards development. Our experts assess matters for plaintiff and defense attorneys, insurance companies, sports teams, utility companies, industry and government entities including the areas listed below.
- ADA
- Balconies
- Bars
- Bathroom Safety
- Bathtub slip resistance ranking
- Bathtubs and Bathing Surfaces
- Building Failures and Distress
- Casinos
- Code Enforcement
- Codes, Standards and Regulations
- Commercial
- Doors
- Flooring Claims and Analysis
- Garage Doors
- Guardrails
- Handrails
- Highways and Streets
- Hospitals
- Industrial
- Municipal Facilities
- Nursing Homes
- Overhead Doors
- Parking Lots and Garages
- Platforms
- Porches
- Ramps
- Residential
- Restaurants
- Retail
- Schools
- Sharp Edges
- Sidewalks
- Slip Resistance
- Slip-Trip-Fall Evaluations
- Sports Venues
- Stairs
- Storm Drainage, Flooding and Ice
- Structural Failures
- Supermarkets
- Transportation
- Universities
- Walkway Surfaces
- Walkways
- Work Zones
Fleisher Forensics evaluates product liability matters for plaintiffs, designers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of products. Our expertise spans from basic to complex product liability evaluations including the areas listed below.
- Automobile components
- Appliances
- Building products
- Chairs
- Commercial and industrial equipment
- Consumer goods
- Construction equipment
- Failure analysis
- Failed materials
- Flooring products
- Hunting tree stands
- HVAC equipment
- Industrial equipment
- Ladders
- Machine guarding
- Medical equipment
- Overhead doors
- Personal watercraft
- Plumbing products
- Power tools
- Recreational products
- Safety plans
- Scaffolds
- Shower doors
- Vehicle systems
Architects, Engineers & Veterinary
Our professional engineers and registered architects understand and value a thorough analysis for professional liability matters. We consider relevant and reasonable practices and standards. Fleisher Forensics approaches these as well as other matters with a peer review approach including the areas of expertise listed below:
- ADA
- Agreements
- Architectural Claims
- Bathtubs and bathing surfaces
- Building Failures & Distress
- Building products & systems
- Change order claims
- Civil Engineering
- Code Enforcement
- Codes, Standards and Regulations
- Construction Claims
- Construction Management and Administration
- Construction Safety and Accidents
- Contract Disputes
- Defective Work Claims
- Delay Claims
- Design Claims
- Engineering Claims
- Errors or Omissions Claims
- Flooring Claims & Analysis
- Highways, Streets and Parking Lots
- Machine Guarding
- Mechanical Engineering
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Scope of Work
- Structural Engineering
- Structural Failures
- Termination Claims
- Traffic Controls and Devices
- Walkway Surfaces
Construction & Claims
Highways require regular maintenance and periodic reconstruction. This work must be done efficiently, safely and while accommodating the needs of the road users and providing for the safety of the construction personnel.
- Bidding documents, plans and specifications
- Commercial Vehicle and heavy equipment operations
- Construction means and methods
- Construction task sequencing
- Construction Claims and Safety
- Construction vehicle access
- Construction Management and Inspection
- Department of Transportation standards and requirements
- Driveways and haul roads
- Intersections
- Lighting
- OSHA regulations
- Professional Liability
- Signage, Traffic Controls and Markings
- Supplements and change orders
- Utility accommodation and control
- Vehicle, pedestrian and construction personnel accidents
- Work hours
- Work Zone Traffic Control
Safety & Work Zone
Highway work zone setups are intended to prevent conflicts between construction activities, pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. Highways require proper design and guidance for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. Highway users have an expectation that the facilities are properly designed and demarcated to provide safe and efficient passage. An important part of the design and guidance is attention to the entire highway corridor, including those areas outside the edge of the paved surface.
- Accidents (Vehicle, Pedestrian and Construction)
- Construction Claims and Safety
- Crosswalks and other Pavement Markings
- Guiderails, Guardrails and Barriers
- Highway Clear Zones
- Horizontal and Vertical Curvature
- Highway Profile, Grades and Cross Section
- Highway Lighting
- Intersections and Driveways
- Interstate Highways and Interchanges
- Roadway Geometry
- Sight Distances
- Traffic Control, Signs, Markings and Signals
- Trails
- Utility Poles and Traffic Signals
- Work Zone Traffic Control
Traffic Controls & Safety
The consistent application of uniform traffic control devices is one of the fundamental foundations of safety on our streets and highways. National and local standards guide the design, application and installation of traffic control devices.
- Pavement Markings
- Railroad Crossing Traffic Control
- School Zone Traffic Control
- Traffic Control Device responsibility
- Traffic Control Device installation and maintenance
- Traffic Control Device regulation
- Traffic Signs – Regulatory Signs, Warning Signs, Guide Signs
- Traffic Signals
- Work Zone Traffic Control
The dynamics of a vehicle accident involve a number of factors including driver action/inaction, the tire-pavement interaction, vehicle systems operations, roadway geometry and the roadside border area among other factors. The ability to understand the interrelationship between all the factors and properly interpret the physical evidence is critical to a successful reconstruction. Our experts are experienced in analyzing matters involving passenger vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians, and large trucks.
- Commercial Vehicle Operations
- Crash Data Analysis
- Crush Damage
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
- Hours of Service Law
- Lighting and Illumination
- Pavement-Tire Interactions
- Perception-Reaction Time
- Road Surface and Conditions
- Skid Marks, Gouges and Yaw Marks
- Sight Distance
- Speed, Time, and Distance
- Statutory Vehicle Laws
- The Driving Task
- Vehicle Systems
- Vehicle Examination
- Weather
Liability & Claims
Safety & Accidents
Our experts regularly evaluate accidents involving falls through floor and roof openings, along floor and platform edges, from scaffolding and construction equipment, from electrocutions and from ladders. Other evaluations include workers hit by falling objects and materials during demolition, construction and completed stages. Examples of construction liability and claim evaluations include:
- Barricades
- Building Failures and Distress
- Cave-ins
- Code Enforcement
- Codes, Standards and Regulations
- Commercial Facilities
- Construction Safety and Accidents
- Demolition
- Retention/Demolition Basins
- Edges of Floors and Roofs
- EIFS (Exterior Insulated Finish System)
- Equipment Failures
- Failure Analysis
- Fences
- Fitness Facilities
- Floor Failures
- Floors
- Footings and Foundations
- Framing
- Garages
- Guarding
- Guiderails
- Handrails
- Healthcare Facilities
- Highways and Streets
- Holes
- Industrial Plants
- Insulation
- Ladders
- Leakage
- Lift Equipment Operation
- Loading and Unloading of Materials
- Manufacturing Plants
- Mechanical Systems
- Metals, Plastics and Materials
- Municipal Facilities
- Office Buildings
- Openings in Floors and Roofs
- Parking Lots
- Pedestrian Incidents
- Power Plants
- Rain
- Residential Facilities
- Roofing
- Roofs
- Scaffolds
- Schools and Universities
- Shopping Centers
- Slip-Trip-Fall Evaluations
- Sports Flooring
- Stairways
- Storm Drainage, Flooding and Ice
- Structural Failures
- Stucco
- Temporary Construction Facilities
- Traffic Controls and Safety
- Trenches
- Utility Construction
- Walkway Surfaces
- Water Damage
- Water Filtration
- Wind
- Work Zones