Motorcycle and e-bike Collision Forensic Services
Motorcyclists are overrepresented in traffic fatalities. In the most recent half decade of reporting available from Transport Canada (2014-2018), yearly motorcyclist fatalities range from 10.4% to 11.3% of total traffic fatalities¹. Yet Statistics Canada data shows that during that same time period of 2014-2018, motorcycles and mopeds consistently accounted for only 2.1% of total vehicle registrations².
Motorcycle Forensic Corp. provides forensic support, collision site investigation, human factors assessment, and critical examination and reporting for collisions involving motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, and e-bikes. We have provided motorcycle collision consulting services to the largest international law firm in Canada. You’ll benefit from Moto Forensic’s blend of education and experience that brings the forensic expertise needed.
Ross, the director of Moto Forensic, has over 1.5 decades of experience in many positions of authority that are relevant to the forensic services offered. This experience blends motorcycle operation instruction, skilled scientist, bicycle operation instruction, and university laboratory teaching experience with a passion for recreational personal vehicles, racing, and mechanics. This combination uniquely positions Moto Forensic to provide credible forensic consulting services. Ross is skilled at explaining complex technical topics in language that is appropriate for the audience.
Ross brings his unique perspective of having observed countless motorcycle incidents involving novice riders during training, as well as experienced riders on the street. He has been the sole provider of critical first aid at a remote location after a major motorcycle collision and brings accumulated knowledge to all endeavours.
FORENSIC SUPPORT
Ross has relevant experience as a scientist and motorcycle instructor, and he can assist your team with the following forensic functions regarding the operation and collisions involving motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, and e-bikes:
- Acting as an expert witness or educating witness
- Providing expert opinion and expert evidence
- Serving as a testifying or non-testifying expert
- Assisting with litigation, depositions, and trials
- Participating in evaluating claim validity
COLLISION SITE INVESTIGATION
Do you require assistance investigating a motorcycle, moped, bicycle, or e-bike collision site? Moto Forensic has expertise combining science and experience to evaluate collisions involving personal recreational vehicles. Collision Site investigation often includes the following services:
- Capturing the collision site through photo and video, both aerially and at ground level, to support an expert report
- Evaluating physical and roadway evidence at the site and integrating it with relevant topography and traffic controls immediately surrounding the collision site, to assemble the big picture
- Examining law enforcement or civilian photographs taken on the day of the collision for evidence, information, or indications such as dispersed vehicle parts, roadway condition, tire skid marks, motorcycle scratches, or scrapes on the roadway to assist in ordering a chain of events
- Analyzing roadway design, traffic control, and signage in and around the collision site to comment on appropriate operator actions given the time and location of the collision
- Traversing the collision site on motorcycle, bicycle, or car to gain an appreciation of the point of view of the plaintiff and defendant, to identify such items as their field of view and line of sight, and to experience roadway speed
- Visiting the collision location at the same time of day and time of year as the collision when possible, to gain an appreciation for prudent operator action, and factors such as sun being in an operator’s line of sight and typical traffic density at the location
- Inspecting the road surface and surrounding area to document plausible challenges encountered by vehicle operators at the time of the collision, such as low friction surfaces, sloping road surfaces, topographical changes, and vegetation obscuring operator view
- Assessing the degree and type of damage to a motorcycle body and frame from photos or in person, such as scrape orientation, body damage, or tire flat spots, to aid in determining the order of events during loss of control
HUMAN FACTORS ASSESSMENT
As an experienced motorcyclist and an instructor who has taught over 600 riders, Ross is uniquely attuned to the rider experience – and to the required competencies and pitfalls associated with various levels of experience. Ross is experienced in evaluating and understanding motorcycle operator behaviours, capabilities, and limitations. Human factor analysis is centered on human response given the events, circumstances, time, and location of the collision, and includes various elements. Moto Forensic can analyze the human factors of a motorcycle, moped, bicycle, or e-bike collision site on a variety of aspects, including the following:
- Common behaviors exhibited by riders with lack of experience, lack of training, or lack of due care and attention
- Difficulties and behaviors exhibited by novice riders with motorcycles that are too heavy or too powerful for their experience level
- Night riding, riding in the rain, and traversing low friction surfaces
- Braking and evasive maneuver prudency evaluation
- Collision avoidance and obstacle avoidance analysis
- Helmet and protective equipment utilization or lack thereof
- Rider lane positioning effectiveness evaluation given the design of the roadway, operator forward visibility, traffic controls, and lane markings
- Motorcycle and rider conspicuity evaluation regarding elements such as colour blocking, engine or exhaust sound, lighting, time of day, and position of various backlighting in the field of view such as the sun or fog
- Fatigue from extended riding, exhaustion from the elements or dehydration, and the impact of fatigue on rider proficiency
- Lens types used in eyewear and how they affect depth perception, balance, etc.
- An individual’s ability to judge an approaching motorcycle’s speed or location
CRITICAL EXAMINATION & REPORTING
Moto Forensic has experience examining data and writing reports that are based on science, with facts, evidence, data, experience, and case file assessment. Moto Forensic can perform the following services related to collisions involving a motorcycle, moped, bicycle, or e-bike:
- Analyzing a case file and combining relevant information into a professional formal report
- Integrating information collected during case analysis and effectively incorporating such items as annotated photos taken at the collision site, annotated maps of the given area, tables, charts, and diagrams
- Analyzing, assessing, and integrating questioning transcripts, collision reports, law enforcement collision statements, witness statements, and collision reconstruction reports
- Examining various reports from the other side and engaging in conversation with clients to facilitate effective cross-examination
- Evaluating mechanical and maintenance records, with a comparison to manufacturer recommendations, to identify deferred maintenance or lack of repairs and provide an opinion on the consequences of various types of maintenance and repair deferral
- Looking up motor vehicles by VIN number to assess for status of manufacturer recalls and cross-reference with mechanical records to determine if the recall was completed, and provide an evaluation regarding the prospect of an open recall being relevant to the collision in question.
1 Transport Canada. (December 19, 2019). Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics: 2018. https://tc.canada.ca/en/canadian-motor-vehicle-traffic-collision-statistics-2018.
2 Statistics Canada. (August 11, 2020). Vehicle Registrations, by Type of Vehicle. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=2310006701