|
Metallurgical Accident Investigation
Accident Investigation is exactly what the phrase suggests, investigation of an accident. As a
metallurgist and metallurgical expert, Dr. Jerner has conducted
well over 1,300 metallurgical accident investigations.
When do you need a metallurgist to conduct or be involved in an accident investigation? The best way to answer that question is with the
following example. Two vehicles collide in the middle of an intersection because one failed to see or stop when the traffic light turned red. There are no broken metal components which could have failed and caused
steering, control or stopping problems. This is NOT an accident requiring a metallurgist or metallurgical engineering accident investigation. However, let us now add the fact that the rear wheel of the vehicle,
which did not stop for the red traffic light, is found near the accident scene. If the wheel came loose, not as a result of the accident, but preceding the collision and as a result of an axle, wheel rim or lug
bolt/nut failure, a metallurgical engineering expert could and should be involved in this accident investigation. The question is, "did the wheel failure cause the accident" or, "did the
accident cause the wheel failure?"
Most people are aware that, in the case of the intersection accident sited above, a police officer would "take the facts, ma'am" (per
Sargent Friday of "Dragnet"), produce an accident report and indeed would have conducted an "accident investigation." The metallurgist or metallurgical engineer would take the failed axle, wheel
rim or lug bolt/nut, visually and microscopically view the evidence, probably perform a series of metallurgical tests and produce a metallurgical accident investigation report. This report might very well become
part of a larger accident investigation and ultimately might be
presented as testimony by Dr. Jerner as a metallurgical expert witness during litigation.
J.E.I. Metallurgical, Inc. conducts original "at the scene" accident investigations. As a metallurgist and metallurgical engineer, Dr.
Jerner is often a member of a fast response accident investigation "FRAI go-team". When an accident occurs at an oil well drilling site, an explosion occurs at a chemical plant or natural gas pumping station,
or at other such
major accidents, a fast response accident investigation is often necessary to preserve vital evidence and to conduct a root cause analysis of the incident.
|
|
|
 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 --- r.c.jerner@metallurgist.com |
|
