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Fast
Response Accident Investigation
Fast response accident
investigation (FRAI) is what occurs when attorneys
and/or insurers and/or companies involve an outside,
independent expert in the investigation process at
the earliest possible moment after an accident
and/or equipment failure.
In the recent past, I have been
involved in an unusual number of FRAI’s. In each
and every case, major dividends have resulted. In
years past, I have written about FRAI and the
benefits thereof. The benefits delineated in the
article are still available to those who involve
experts early in Fast Response Accident
Investigation.
The benefits that were
discussed were as follows:
- An explosion of a
petrochemical tanker occurred resulting in
considerable property damage. Fast response to
the incident resulted in the following benefits:
- Although hundreds of feet
of fracture surface were created, the origin
area was located.
- Early laboratory
examination confirmed that abnormal/contaminated
fluids had been introduced into the tank.
- Critical evidence of the
contaminant and fracture evidence was properly
preserved.
- In another matter, fast
response accident investigation of a pump failure
resulted in:
- Proper photographic
documentation of cracks in the pump housing.
- Early decontamination of
the pump housing thereby resulting in reduced
fracture contamination.
- Early development of a
test protocol to guide destructive testing.
The benefits of “fast response
accident investigation” (FRAI) are numerous. Many
times good and valuable information is lost if FRAI
is not promptly and properly conducted. In this day
and time, when evidence spoliation can and does
occur so often, it is vital to have competent
accident investigation scene documentation and
evidence preservation as early as possible.
For additional thoughts on the
value of fast response accident investigation follow
the link (FRAI).
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Dr.
R. Craig Jerner, Ph.D., PE specializes in accident
investigation and metallurgical failure analysis,
with over 30 years experience as a metallurgical
consultant and accident investigator. He has
testified as a metallurgical expert in over 250
depositions and more than 70 court appearances. If you or someone you know should need the services of Dr. Jerner and J.E.I. Metallurgical, please visit our web site at the buttons below, or e-mail Dr. Jerner --- 