HPW Biomechanics, Inc. provides biomechanics & human factors experts that specialize in Personal Injury Accidents that emphasize the interactions between people and their environment including perception response/reaction, expectations, and actions (human performance, human factors) and the consequences of their actions (biomechanics). HPW Biomechanics, Inc.'s core expertise is in Personal Injury Accidents / Injury Biomechanics in areas such as motor vehicles / pedestrians, workplace / industry, sports / recreation, slips / trips / falls, and sexual assault / rape.

 Motor Vehicle and Pedestrian Accidents 

• Occupant Kinematics    
• Low Speed Impacts
• Vehicle-Pedestrian Collisions
• Rollovers and Ejections

Representative Cases

• Comparitive analysis of behaviors including such as attention, perception-response and expectations on the cause of vehicle-pedestrian accidents.

• Multiple incidents to determine which of two occupants involved in fatal auto accidents was driving. Vehicle and site inspection data were evaluated. In addition, vehicle dynamics were examined and their effect on occupant dynamics evaluated and compared to recorded injuries.

• Several incidences involving belly dumptrucks and/or traillers were evaluated to determine the cause of night time collisions. Cases typically involve such as conspicuity, visual issues, driver behavioral patterns and perception-response.

• Comparative analysis of the effect of a seat belt on injury prevention and restraint versus the actual outcome of ejection and resulting injuries. Vehicle dynamics were examined and their effect on occupant dynamics evaluated and compared to recorded injuries.

• Evaluation of numerous cases involving low to medium speed rear-end impacts. Cases are typically evaluated using risk factors and occupant kinematics to identify injury mechanisms. Consistency between actions and injuries play an important role.

• Investigation of possible causes for an auto accident involving perceptions and expectations regarding the function of both the gas and brake pedals. In addition, a human factors/biomechanical analysis was conducted on the system design to determine its adequacy.

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Workplace / Product / Sports Injuries, Product Liability and Patent Infringement

• Product Liability    
• Product Failure
• Product Patent Infringement
• Industrial Design and Safety
• Product Use and Warning

Representative Cases

Patent Infringment

• Patent infringement cases for and/or against the following companies in the area of product design including various types of athletic footware, treadmills, elliptical trainers and exercise equipment: Nike, ASICS, Precor, Life Fitness, Soliflex, Avia, teva and Osaga.  

Workplace / Product / Sports Injuries

• Evaluation of a snow blower accident. Issues were related to both design and warnings.

• Evaluation of the hazards associated with the handle design of a towable ski tube.   

• Determination of contributing factors in several nail gun accidents. Issues assessed included the adequacy of the design relative to human performance capabilities, expected use patterns and use and effect of warnings.

• Evaluate an auger accident and determine how the accident occurred and possible contributing factors.

• Evaluate the design and design modification of a large paper mill roller relative to personnel safety. Determine why and how employee got caught in roller.

• Determination of contributing factors to a fall from a scaffold. Issues assessed included the adequacy of the scaffold design based upon human factors and biomechanical criteria, expectations of potential users and warnings and their use and effect.

• Evaluation of the adequacy of the design of a machine relative to safety when cleaning and operating. The evaluation included site and product examination coupled with an analysis of human perceptions and expectations.

• Evaluate the efficacy of the design of safety stops on an exercise machine relative to functional human anatomy of the potential user.

• Product evaluation and design effects on a performance injury. Woman playing softball severely injured her ankle while sliding. The analysis evaluated the likelihood that the specific injuries were caused by the shoe design even when the slide was properly executed.

• Several instances involving shoe failures (including golf, walking and baseball shoes) have been evaluated to determine their effect on injuries while properly performing the activity.

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Slips, Trips and Falls

• User Factors    
• System Factors
• Hazards and Warnings
• Standard of Care
• Risk Management

Representative Cases 

• Evaluation of numerous slip, trip and fall accidents to determine the contributions of the individuals versus the environment. These cases typically involve a detailed evaluation of the site in relationship to the perceptions, expectations and assumptions of the individual.

• Evaluation of numerous falls while descending stairways. Primary issues include small deviations in riser heights and tread slopes, adequacy of handrails, and effects of various anatomical problems.

• Investigation of a fall from a kitchen foot stool being used on a linoleum surface. A scientific evaluation of the stool-surface system was completed to determine whether "typical" movements by a user would be sufficient to cause the stool to slide resulting in a fall.

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Sexual Assault / Rape

• Physical Actions    
• Anatomical Factors
• Biomechanical Factors
• Physiological Factors

Representative Cases 

• Six cases: Evaluation of claimed physical actions for validity based upon anatomical, biomechanical and physiological constraints.

( Complete Case Lists )

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