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Expert in Boat and PWC Accident Investigation and Crash Reconstruction
Available for your Consulting and Expert Witness Needs
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Summary of Expertise:
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Captain Expert and his staff investigates and reconstructs pleasure craft, personal watercraft and near coastal commercial collisions. The staff has a combination of years of law enforcement experience and sea time, backed by a skilled technical staff, that can investigate, analyze and reconstruct a watercraft collision and present the findings in court.
He is a licensed United States Coast Guard Master, who also has over twenty-five years of law enforcement experience, the majority involving collision investigation and reconstruction.
Being a full time Police Officer, his experience ranges from writing safety relates articles for regional publications to teaching boating safety and watercraft accident reconstruction courses. He also teaches for the Massachusetts Harbormaster Academy and has been lead investigator in numerous vehicular homicide cases. Currently assigned as the Agency's Safety Officer. His career has a strong investigative foundation.
As a United States Coast Guard licensed Master, he has combined his experience and education as a Reconstructionist with his experience as a Captain making him a distinctively qualified expert in the area of watercraft collision and reconstruction.
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We do not believe in "accidents" as this infers that there was no avoiding the incident. Since human factors are involved, crash causation is perhaps a more accurate term. This can be as simple as a speed to great for existing conditions (sea-state, fog,water depth, other vessels/narrow channel, improper look-out or radar watch. Each and every crash has a human element that must be examined in the greater scope of the entire crash.
To accurately determine the cause of a crash, weather reports, tide conditions and chart analysis must be performed. The course (or direction) of vessels must be determined as well as establishing what "Nav" rules applied and how these were followed.
Causation is simply the final product that we provide for our clients.
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Crash investigation can involve the minutes or hours leading up to the crash itelf. Depending on each individual fact pattern, actions (and omissions) prior to a crash are key elements in the overall investigation. The investigation will involve weather elements, human elements as well as "Nav" rules and mechanical elements.
No investigation is complete without a clear report and court presentation. We can provide a complete analysis of a crash or the policies & procedures of a marina or boat rental establishment that MAY have contributed to a crash.
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Accident or CRASH reconstuction is the process of taking each piece of physical evidence and fitting them together. This may involve time and distance calculations, lamp examination, damage assessmentor even fitting to boats back together so to show each vessel's path thru pre-engagement, engagement and post engagement sequences.
By using the investigative techniques mentioned, the United Stes Coast Guard navigation rules (1972 Colregs) can be applied to the incident.
Many vessels are equipped with a global positioning system (GPS). These systems if retrieved early in an investagation can be downloaded to reveal speed and course of the vessel.
It is also extremely important to know the differance between a marine surveyor, a salvage company and a Reconstructionist. Many times a surveyor is mistakenly contracted to analyze a crash. Only a Reconstructionist is properly trained to investigate a crash and present these findings in a court of law. Here we excel. As founder and lead investigator with over 25 years experience of courtroom experience, the staff includs licensed Captains, harbor patrol officers and suport staff. This experience includes district and superior court as well as federal district court as well as expertise in multi-media presentations.
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Boating accidents (crashes) or boating incidents come in many differant forms. Certainly boat v. boat (including Personal Watercraft- PWC) are the most obvious. Other times excessive wakes are a factor. Overloading, inexperieced operators, failure to follow the "Nav" rules other other factors in boating crashes. A marina or rental facility failing to follow procdures or policies may also contribute to an incident. All of these factors must be explored in a boating incident.
Captain Expert and staff is equipped to investigate all types of watercraft crashes.
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Although fully trained in land based crash reconstruction, we limit ourselves to watercraft investigations only.
The experience of conducting numerous land based crash investigations has however, allowed us a strong foundation in processing scenes and determining cause.
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There are times when phyisical evidence is "lost" to the seabed or lakebed. Although rare, this evidence can be detailed and mapped by sidescan sonar if need be. Another option is to photograph the evidence by way of diver or remote control camera device. When needed, he is ready to address these needs and recover this important evidence.
His goal is to funish its clients with the most complete report he can provide.
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Show Secondary and Basic Areas of Expertise | Localities:
Expert may consult nationally and internationally, and is also local to the following cities: Boston, Massachusetts;
Worcester, Massachusetts;
Springfield, Massachusetts;
Lowell, Massachusetts;
Cambridge, Massachusetts;
Brockton, Massachusetts;
New Bedford, Massachusetts;
Fall River, Massachusetts;
Manchester, New Hampshire;
and Providence, Rhode Island.
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| Year |
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Degree |
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Subject |
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Institution |
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1988
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BS
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Criminal Justice
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Shepperton Unviersity
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| Years |
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Employer |
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Department |
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Title |
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Responsibilities |
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1981 to
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(Undisclosed)
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Police Department
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Safety Officer
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Expert is the agency's lead crash Reconstructionist as well as on the regional team. He is also responsible for town wide traffic safety issues. He is also a member of the regional motor unit
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2005 to
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(Undisclosed)
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Associations/Societies
International Association of Marine Investigators;
National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists;
Massachusetts Harbormaster's Association;
Massachusetts Police Association
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Licenses/Certifications
United States Coast Guard (Captain)
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Professional Appointments
International Association of Marine Investagators State Lew Enforcement Coordinator
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Awards/Recognition
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Trooper Hannah award;
Town of Andover Medal of Honor;
Town of Andover Medal of Valor;
Town of Andover lifesaving medal (2);
various unit citations and letters of commendation
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| Government Experience: |
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| Agency |
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Role |
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Description |
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Town of andover
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Police Officer
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Expert is the Town of Andover's Crash Reconstructionist as well as a member of the regional motor unit and Reconstruction Team
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Click the green button above to contact
Expert for a free initial screening call regarding your expert consulting needs.
Expert is available for consulting to corporate, legal and government clients.
Remember, your initial screening call to speak with
Expert is free.
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Expert Witness Experience Summary:
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As a police officer, Expert has testified at all levels of the criminal and civil trial court system in Massachusetts as well as federal court. He has also given testimony for the MA Great and General Court.
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Recent Litigation Client Requests:
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Boating accident investigation expert for consulting on boating accident litigation.
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Expert in boating accident reconstruction for consulting on litigation case where person was injured in 14' boat traveling on Oneida River in Syracuse, New York.
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Expert in maritime accident reconstruction for litigation involving a boat that crashed where casualties were sustained.
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Expert in naval engineering for consulting on damages sustained to wooden barge.
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Expert in boating regulations enforcement for consulting on as to boating officers failure to exercise care.
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Boating safety expert for consulting on boating accident liability.
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Scuba diving expert for consulting on investigation and litigation.
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Click the green button above to contact
Expert for a free initial screening call regarding expert testimony,
litigation consulting and support, forensic services, or any related expert witness services.
A few litigation needs include product liability, personal injury, economic loss, intellectual property
(patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright), and insurance matters. Remember, your initial screening
call to speak with
Expert is free.
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| Additional Skills and Services: |
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Training/Seminars
He currently teaches for the Massachusetts Harbormaster's Academy and the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee.
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Supplier and Vendor Location and Selection He has numerous contacts and relationships with a wide variety of marine professionals.
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Other Skills and Services
Crash Reconstructionist, Town of Andover;
Crash Reconstructionist, North Eastern; Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council
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Education
