Our Expert Services

Forensic Injury Biomechanics

The Rimkus biomechanical engineering team specializes in injury biomechanics for scientifically based forensic investigations involving personal injuries. Our biomechanists offer unique expertise in physics, accident reconstruction dynamics, biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, and human kinematics to analyze the effects of forces upon the body and determine the mechanics of personal injuries and fatal events. Rimkus experts’ thorough knowledge of injury biomechanics, industry practices, training, safety, regulations, and contractual issues allows them to explain precisely what happened in a wide range of accidents, claims, and legal disputes.

Motor Vehicle Injury Biomechanics

Motor Vehicle Injury Causation and Consistency Analysis

Utilizing extensive experience, Rimkus biomechanists specialize in identifying the type of injuries that could result from specific accidents. Our experts have conducted a wide range of in-depth examinations involving soft tissue injuries in low-speed accidents, severe injuries in multi-vehicle collisions, and fatal injuries in high-speed accidents.

We can examine the accident dynamics, occupant kinematics, and effects of forces upon the body within the accident sequence to evaluate the diagnosed injuries and determine if the injuries claimed are consistent with the mechanics of the accident. Rimkus can also evaluate passive or active occupant protection restraint systems and determine if they have mitigated or contributed to the severity of the injuries claimed or fatal event.

Vehicle Rollover Injury Analysis

Rollover events expose vehicle occupants to more chaotic dynamics than other accidents, and injuries can become more difficult to predict. Vehicle rollovers are often preceded by impacts between vehicles, which may affect the dynamics of the vehicles and the motions of the occupants within.

To determine what happened in a vehicle rollover accident, Rimkus experts can establish the occupants’ movement within the vehicle during the rollover, use of a seat belt, and point of ejection. We can determine if the claimed injuries would have been as severe if the occupant had not been ejected or had been wearing a seat belt. Our team can also identify if a failure within the vehicle prompted the occupant to be ejected, as well as other factors that could have mitigated or contributed to resulting injuries.

Vehicle Occupant Ejection Injury Evaluation

In cases involving vehicle occupant ejections, Rimkus consultants can evaluate the motions of occupants before and after the ejection, as well as the resulting injuries. In addition to injury analysis, Rimkus can address key questions regarding the vehicle restraint systems and determine if they were operating or being used appropriately. We can determine if the ejected occupant was properly seated and restrained, whether injuries occurred inside the vehicle or after the occupant ejection, and if a vehicle component failure contributed to the ejection.

Driver Determination Assessment

When multiple occupants are involved in an accident, Rimkus is often retained to determine which occupant was driving the vehicle. Rimkus experts use accident reconstruction tools and biomechanics to determine the injuries that would have been sustained by the driver and passengers in a particular accident. After a comprehensive comparative analysis, our experts can identify the driver and passengers, physical locations of occupants within the vehicle, and the injuries most likely sustained.

Motorcycle Injury Investigation

Motorcycle accidents present unique dynamics and injuries. Our biomechanists can determine if the reported injuries are consistent with the mechanics of the accident and if protective equipment could have mitigated or prevented the injuries. Rimkus consultants routinely determine if injuries would have been less severe had the driver of a motorcycle or vehicle not been operating above the posted speed limit.

Pedestrian Injury Evaluation

When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, expertise in injury biomechanics is required to answer complex questions related to injuries and the motions of the pedestrian and vehicle. Our biomechanists can determine if diagnosed injuries are consistent with the mechanics of the accident, how fast the vehicle was traveling when it struck the pedestrian, and if the injuries sustained would have been less severe had the vehicle not been traveling above the posted speed limit.

Seat Belt Injury Analysis

Air Bag Deployment Injury Evaluation

Driver and front seat passenger air bags have been known to deploy prematurely or fail to deploy during an accident. Air bag components have also been known to rupture in the event of a crash, causing metal fragments to strike occupants, resulting in serious injuries or death. Rimkus experts can determine if an air bag was properly deployed and warranted in the specific accident. We can also determine if the air bag deployment contributed to injuries or if proper air bag deployment would have mitigated or prevented injuries.

Child Seat Injury Assessment

When a child occupant is involved in a vehicle accident, the potential for and severity of injuries can be directly related to a properly fitted and secured child seat. Our biomechanists can determine if a child seat was appropriate for the child’s weight and age and if it was installed accurately with the vehicle restraints. We can determine if the child was safely secured within the child seat and if it contributed to injuries or if proper use could have mitigated or prevented them.

Vehicle Accident Investigation Expertise:

Bicycle vs. Vehicle Collisions
Car vs. Pedestrian Accidents
Head-on Vehicle Collisions
Multi-vehicle Crashes
T-bone Accidents
Truck vs. Motorcycle Collisions
Vehicle Rollover Accidents

Sports and Recreation Injury Biomechanics

Sporting Goods and Exercise Equipment Injury Evaluation

Rimkus experts can help evaluate the root cause of accidents, and their effects on the human body, that occur when people interact with sporting goods, exercise equipment, and therapy equipment. We can also assess injuries sustained in unique playing environments, such as fields, courts, and arenas.

Playground Injury and Safety Assessment

Even with up-to-date equipment and maintenance, injuries still occur in playground environments. Rimkus can evaluate the injury accident dynamics, as well as guidelines and standards for installation, inspection, and equipment maintenance. Our team includes experts credentialed as Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI) and have experience investigating playground safety issues including hazard identification, equipment specifications, surfacing requirements, and risk management methods.

Amusement Park Injury Investigation

Rimkus biomechanists and mechanical engineers are experienced in evaluating the unique accidents that may occur at amusement and theme parks. Our experts can determine event dynamics, how rides affect the body, and how injuries may occur. We also assess if the ride conditions were consistent with causing claimed injuries.

Premises Injury Biomechanics

Slip, Trip, and Fall Injury Investigation

Understanding the dynamics of slip, trip, and fall injury accidents requires specialized knowledge and expertise. When evaluating injuries related to falls, specific diagnosed injuries may need to be explained. Because Rimkus investigators fully understand the mechanisms of injury and fall dynamics, we can determine how injuries may have occurred. Our experts can ascertain if a fall was initiated by slipping on a wet floor, tripping on a raised edge of a surface, or turning an ankle. Additionally, we can determine if diagnosed injuries are consistent with an injured person’s account of the event.

Falling Object Injury Assessment

Lifting Injury Analysis

Lifting heavy items is a leading cause of injuries in the workplace. As a result, workers can suffer injuries related to the back, spine, shoulder, wrist, elbow, and other areas. Our biomechanists evaluate injuries that may be caused by improper lifting techniques, lifting heavy loads, or years of repetitive lifting. We examine whether the tasks exceeded the recommended load levels, were appropriate for the person performing them, and if the condition diagnosed is consistent with the mechanics of the incident.

Burn Injury Evaluation

By examining the dynamics of heat transfer and skin sensitivity, Rimkus consultants help determine how exposure to substances can result in burns under a variety of conditions. Our experts have investigated cases involving a variety of materials, such as asphalt, candle wax, and hot beverages, to determine if the burns were consistent with the conditions that reportedly led to the injury.

Typical Injury Accident Environments Include:

Amusement Parks and Rides
Balconies and Railings
Construction Worksites
Elevators, Escalators, and Moving Sidewalks
Factories and Warehouses
Hotels and Restaurants
Parks and Playgrounds
Pedestrian Crosswalks
Shopping Centers and Food Courts
Sidewalks, Stairways, and Walkways
Workplace Settings

Bodily Injury Evaluations:

Bone Fractures
Brain and Head Trauma
Burns
Cartilage Damage
Cumulative Trauma Disorders
Disc Herniations
Neck and Lower Back Injuries
Rotator Cuff Tears
Spinal Injuries
Tendon and Ligament Tears

Civil and Criminal Assault Investigation

A significant number of traumatic brain injury deaths are due to physical assault. Rimkus experts apply the principles of biomechanics and physics to better understand the injuries related to assault claims in the workplace. Our consultants can determine if diagnosed injuries are consistent with an accidental event or intentional act. We examine the mechanics of injuries and can test the biomechanical feasibility of theories offered by different parties to explain them.

Product Injury Biomechanics

Personal Protective Equipment Injury Evaluation

When occupational injury accidents occur where personal protective equipment (PPE) is required or suggested, our team examines the use of PPE such as hardhats, helmets, and their component materials, to determine if the injuries could have been mitigated or prevented. Rimkus investigators can evaluate if the appropriate protective equipment was available, was used properly, and performed according to applicable industry standards.

Helmet and Hardhat Injury Evaluation

In situations where activity-specific helmets are required or suggested, such as sporting, recreational, or occupational activities, our experts thoroughly analyze each incident to determine if the helmet performed according to applicable standards, or if the use or lack of use could have mitigated the injuries sustained.

Traumatic Brain Injury Assessment

Using biomechanical methodology and supporting data, Rimkus experts model traumatic brain injury events to assess the probability that these injuries may have occurred. Our investigators can determine if the diagnosed injuries were consistent with the mechanics of an event and whether the injuries were more likely caused by acceleration or impact. If protective equipment was in use, we can determine to what extent the equipment could have protected the person from a traumatic brain injury.