Driver Distraction
It is commonly understood that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous. However very few people understand the cognitive processing issues that make the attempted multitasking so risky. People often suggest that talking on a cell phone is similar to talking with in-vehicle passengers, or adjusting the radio. And aren't children an even bigger distraction? Common opinions and questions, but they all are based on a poor foundation of the problem.
In addition to explaining this cognitive deficit to the jury, we also reconcile cell phone records and data usage to evaluate the probability that the operator was using, or distracted by, the cell phone and if it was a cause of the collision.
Trip and Fall
Objective Advice using Technology
Property owners must maintain safe premises. The question often remains: "Was the trip hazard Open and Obvious?" Several human factors relate to the ability of a pedestrian to detect and identify a trip hazard, including lighting, conspicuity (an object's attention-grabbing characteristics), foreseeable travel path, the size of the object and if the person had previously encountered the object. Through use of an architectural model, we illuminated the jury's understanding of the trip and fall circumstances, and the ease by which the property could have mitigated the known hazard -- a $790,000 verdict.
Workplace Safety
Turning a dream into reality
Construction worksites can be very dangerous, requiring extensive safety protocols and procedures to ensure the safety of workers and pedestrians. Sometimes workers choose not to follow the safety protocols. OSHA's commonly cited General Duty Clause requires that employers provide a workplace that is free from recognized hazards. Sometimes forgotten is the next paragraph in the code:
"Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this Act which are applicable to his own actions and conduct."
