determine whether consumer products involved in accidents were defective, in regard to safety, in:
● residential and lawn maintenance:
Our reconstruction of accidents involving consumer products determines whether such products caused or contributed to the accident. Work in this area also includes determining whether revision of the product or related product systems was feasible and required for safety.
● determine whether such products had adequate warnings
● determine whether such equipment conformed to appropriate:
- accepted engineering practices
- regulations, including state and federal regulations for safety
● furniture and household appliances:
● infant and young children products:
● recreational equipment and equipment for outdoors:
Madden
Accident
Analysis &
Forensic
Engineering
Consultation is available before starting a case. We invite you to
consult with us. There is no charge for an initial phone consultation.
Call us, or if you prefer we can schedule the consultation in advance.
Consultation with James D. Madden, PE, a Professional Engineer, and Forensic
Engineering Consulting and Testifying Expert Witness, is available to the client at all
times during the work - before, during, and after the investigation,
engineering analysis, reconstruction, report, and any other work on the case.
The qualifications of James D. Madden, P.E., Senior Forensic Engineer, Consulting and Testifying
Download a Summary or Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) / Resume' for James D. Madden, P.E.,
email us, and bookmark this website.
Qualifications of James D. Madden, P.E., Senior Forensic Engineer
Downloads and Links - Curriculum Vitae, Email and Bookmark
For mailing address, phone, fax and email address click a button below the Fee Schedule section.
Contact us by phone, fax, mail or email for a copy of the Fee Schedule for charges for engineering
and consulting services and testimony. Click a button below for contact information.
Over the last 30 years we have regularly worked on accidents which occurred in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York and nearby, including inspections of accident sites, equipment, and facilities, with reports and testimony. During these 30 years we have also worked on accidents which occurred in other states, and equipment and facilities located in other states, with inspections of accident sites, equipment, and facilities, from Utah and Kansas to Vermont and North Carolina, with reports and testimony for these accidents, when applicable.
Geographic Area of Practice - North America
Contact us to discuss your case by phone at NO CHARGE.
This consultation can be scheduled in advance to meet your schedule.
● took extensive college coursework in engineering design of equipment
earned 2 Engineering degrees, Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering, and took additional post-degree coursework, with coursework in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering mechanics, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and normal psychology
designed and specified equipment, and equipment systems, including instrumentation and controls, warnings and safeguards, during 17 years working in industrial operations and design engineering
● over 40 years of engineering experience, with:
● 17 years experience in industrial operations, engineering design and construction assistance
● 30 years experience in forensic engineering, including:
● working on over 1000 cases
● issuing over 600 reports and over 60 affidavits
● testifying in over 90 depositions and over 75 trials
at the start of forensic work, completed refresher and additional post-degree college credit coursework and continuing education coursework in mechanical engineering, metallurgy and materials
● attended the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) seminar on product liability
● attended engineering seminars presented by the National Academy of Forensic Engineers
regularly attend additional technical courses and seminars each year to meet the requirements for continuing engineering education for the Professional Engineer's license
We analyze equipment that was involved in accidents for mechanical failure, safety design and the presence of required safety features, particularly safeguards, such as barrier guards, light curtains, dual operating buttons, safety instrumentation, etc., and warnings.
Examples of equipment which has been analyzed to date include:
Our Engineering Analyses of Consumer Products cover mechanical failure, safety design and safety features, particularly safeguards (including mechanical guards and instrumentation) and warnings, with the intent to:
determine whether such products had appropriate safeguards, such as guards, safety instrumentation, etc.
● verbal reports, by telephone or in face-to-face conferences
We present the results of our investigations, engineering analyses and reconstructions in
the client's choice of any, or all, of the following:
Presentation of results of our work
● written reports and affidavits
● deposition testimony, including video deposition
● trial testimony and arbitration testimony
James D. Madden, P.E., while performing Forensic Engineering work full-time for over
the last 30 years, for both plaintiff and defendant, has to date:
Forensic Engineering Work by Senior Forensic Engineer James D. Madden, P.E.
● completed over 1000 cases
● written and issued over 600 reports
● testified in over 90 depositions
● written and issued over 60 affidavits
● testified in over 75 trials
Experience and Qualifications of James D. Madden, P.E. in regard to accidents involving
Consumer Products and Industrial, Commercial & Construction Equipment*
* these accidents are analyzed using the same engineering principles and experience
click on underlined words to use links - if no word is underlined try hovering the mouse over words to see underlines
earned the Professional Engineers license (P.E.) by taking the National Council of Engineering Examiners' (NCEE) examination in Fundamentals of Engineering and the Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering sections of the NCEE examination in Principles and Practices of Engineering
designated a Diplomate Forensic Engineer by the National Academy of Forensic Engineers in accordance with the standards of the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB)
Our Engineering Analysis of Consumer Products
Examples of Consumer Products We have Analyzed
• including residential and recreational products, and vehicles
<< click for a description of the typical activities and work performed
over 175 incidents involving mechanical consumer products and industrial and commercial equipment have been investigated and reconstructed as part of the forensic engineering work during the last 30 years
<< click for examples of Consumer Products analyzed
Our Work with Consumer Products includes the investigation and reconstruction of accidents associated with these products, and the investigation and engineering analysis of operation and/or failure of the involved product, when either occurs.
Our work includes assessment of the activities of the persons involved in the accident as these activities relate to the product involved. Engineering analysis of the design, construction, and assembly of the involved product is included in our work. In particular we assess and evaluate the conformance of the equipment to the requirements of Safety Design principles and the applicable Codes, Standards and Recommended Practices. We determine the requirements for the presence of safety features including Safeguards (such as mechanical guards and instrumentation) and Warnings, and determine whether the required safety features were in place and performing properly at the time of the subject accident.
Our work includes assessment of the operation of the involved product, particularly as it relates to safety and the accident events, both as a result of the accident events and as the cause of accident events, when either, or both, is the case.
Our engineering analyses of consumer products cover mechanical failure, safety designand safety features. Safety features analyzed include safeguards (such as mechanical guards and instrumentation) and warnings. These analyses are for the purpose of determining the safety of these products, and if they are unsafe, the source of this defect. Our engineering analyses are discussed further in 'Our Engineering Analysis' below. Also see 'Typical Work' below for other activities typically involved in our work. Click on the red underlined words in this website to link to the sections named.
Our reconstruction of accidents involving consumer products determines whether such products caused or contributed to the accident. Work in this area also includes determining whether revision of the product was feasible and required for safety.
Our analysis of consumer product accidents includes consideration of the human-mechanical interface in the accident, as understood through Human Factors and from extensive experience in the safety design of mechanical equipment. See 'Experience and Qualifications...' below for this experience and the other qualifications for work with Consumer Product Accidents. Also see''Engineering Design' on another page for examples of equipment, equipment systems and facilities designed while a design engineer.
^^^ click on buttons to go to other pages covering these subjects ^^^
Commonalities in mechanical Consumer Products - are important in the forensic analysis of accidents and incidents and the analysis of the involvement of such consumer products in an accident. Different types of consumer products (as well as industrial, commercial and construction equipment) have the same or very similar requirements for mechanical integrity, stability, safety design, safety features and performance, control and safe operation, as they relate to safety.
Consumer Products and the need for mechanical integrity, stability, performance and control, as they relate to safety, and safe operation, and safety features as related to an accident, are analyzed by us using generally accepted engineering and safety design principles, including the safety design hierarchy. These engineering principles have application to all mechanical consumer products and all mechanical consumer product accidents, and are used in the analysis of the requirements for, and the use and performance of, safety features in consumer products. The safety effects, if any, of the requirements of applicable Standards & Codes are considered in all these analyses.
Mechanical integrity is the ability of equipment and products to avoid failure under various conditions. Safety design covers techniques and features to provide fail-safe design (a design that will not allow the creation of a safety hazard as a result of a failure or mis-operation). Safety design also covers techniques and features to design out hazards for aspects of the product that impact safety. Safety features include safeguards, such as mechanical guards and safety instrucmentation, and warnings. Product features for mechanical integrity, and safety, and their use, when applicable, are similar or the same among various types of mechanical consumer products*. The requirements for mechanical integrity, and performance, control, operation and potential mis-operation, as they relate to safety, and specific safety features are determined primarily by the potential hazards, with considerations of how the product will be used, not the type of product, whether designed and sold as consumer products, or as industrial, commercial and construction equipment.
See the Equipment page for mechanical equipment most commonly encountered in Industry, Commercial facilities, Maintenance and Construction use, but which may also be used by consumers.
● products involved in fires and explosions*:
- personal watercraft ("jet skis")
about equipment involved in fires and explosions (in another website in separate adjoining browser tabs)
- gas-fired residential furnaces and heat circulation systems
- wood-burning residential furnaces and heat circulation systems
● products involved in incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning*:
carbon monoxide poisonings
● residential structural components*:
- interior and exterior steps and stairs and their handrails
* also see the Premises page for more information about equipment installed with buildings and
structures (in another website in a separate adjoining browser tab)
* chemicals used by consumers, such as household cleaners and gardening chemicals are covered
on the Chemicals page of this website.
Table of Contents - Consumer Products and related - links to content on this page
* including items installed in residences
Madden Accident Analysis & Forensic Engineering, through its Senior Forensic Engineer, James D. Madden, P.E., a licensed professional engineer, has performed Accident Investigations, Engineering Analyses and Accident Reconstructions for accidents, incidents and cases in the metropolitan areas of Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Toledo, Warren, Youngstown, Mansfield, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Lima, Findlay, Marietta and Steubenville, as well elsewhere throughout Ohio, and the metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh and Erie, as well as elsewhere throughout western and central Pennsylvania, and the metropolitan areas of Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint and Port Huron, as well as elsewhere in southern Michigan, and the metropolitan areas of Buffalo and Syracuse, as well as elsewhere in western and central New York state. In many of these areas James D. Madden, P.E. has provided expert reports and testified in the capacity of an Expert Witness in court proceedings, including depositions, arbitrations and/or trials.
Madden Accident Analysis & Forensic Engineering, through its Senior Forensic Engineer James D. Madden, P.E., is available for Accident Investigations, Engineering Analyses, Accident Reconstructions, and testimony in deposition, arbitration and trial, for cases located throughout North America.
See details of the forensic work throughout this website, and a summary on the Employment Page.
Bookmark this site by typing Control D ('Ctr' + 'D').
■ Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning*
■ Residential & Lawn Maintenance
■ Infants & Small Children
■ Furniture & Kitchen Appliances
click on the underlined squares to link to the subjects
The set of categories listed below are provided for the convenience of the user of this webpage in finding particular consumer products, but are not the only way products could be categorized. Thus, if you are looking for a particular product, you may find looking at the complete list of products or using Ctrl-F (Page Search) to be useful in this search. The products listed on this webpage are examples of consumer products analyzed. The listings on this webpage do not include all the consumer products analyzed.
Consumer Products by Categories - links to content on this page
Consumer Products involved in:
■ Our Forensic Engineering Work - number of ● Cases ● Reports ● Affidavits ● Testimonies
■ Experience & Qualifications in regard to Consumer Products
Also see Combustion Hazards for consumer products using combustion processes which cause or are involved with explosions or carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, on another website.
■ Also see Fires & Explosions for consumer products involved in fires and explosions, on another website.
Also see Premises Accidents for consumer products commonly installed and used by consumers in residences and other buildings, on another website (will show on a separate adjoining browser tab).
Also see Chemical Products, for household and gardening chemicals in consumer products, and used by consumers, on another page.
Use the Search Box at the left to search the whole website.
Use Control F, 'Ctrl' + 'F', to locate specific words on this page.
■ Curriculum Vitae, CV, Resume'
■ Contact Us by Phone, Mail or Email
■ Consult, before and after assignment
■ Fee Schedule Availability
■ Our Engineering Analysis of Consumer Products
■ Commonalities in Products
■ Examples of Consumer Products Analyzed
■ Consumer Products listed by Type/Category
■ Our Typical Work Activities and Products
■ Presentation of The Results of Our Work
■ Other Experience & Qualifications
■ Geographic Area available for Work
■ Links to Other Pages (left sidebars)
click on the underlined squares and underlined words to link to the subjects
* including items installed in residences
Our work investigating, analyzing and reconstructing accidents, and presenting the results, may include any or all of the following, depending on the needs of the case:
Our Typical Work Activities and Products, when warranted by the case
● inspection of the accident site, such as a roadway, outdoor facilities, building or industrial facilities
inspection of the involved equipment, in current condition, including in damaged condition (such as crashed vehicles); and when available for operation, during operation (such as industrial equipment)
● interviewing witnesses (often during the inspection of the accident site, product and/or equipment)
coordinating or interfacing with others while they are preparing specialized exhibits such as video animations and videos of demonstrations
review and study of case documents, evidence and applicable codes, standards, regulations and recommended practices
● written reports and affidavits, and exhibits
drawings, calculations, graphical analyses, computer analyses, etc. as required to analyze and reconstruct the accident, and to present the engineering analysis and reconstruction
● testing accident items and exemplar items (such as consumer products)
● photography and/or video of the accident site and involved equipment
● testimony in deposition, trial and arbitration
for more information,
click on subject listings below
These Specialties are in a website which will open in a separate tab to the right of the current tab. This website in the current tab and the new website will be available side by side.
Safeguards and Warnings are particularly relevant to Specialties listed below
Consumer and Workplace Safeguards & Warnings
If lines of text overlap in this website check the browser zoom setting - reducing the zoom should prevent overlap of lines of text.
If parts of the website are missing or distorted, such as a section of the Left Navigation Bar, or a button, try rebooting the page in the browser, one or more times - click on the circle arrow at the left of the website name [URL].
brown buttons below open pdfs in separate tabs for downloading
or printing
Accidents involving Consumer Products covered on this page are analyzed for:
effects of ● Mechanical Integrity ● Stability ● Performance ● Control ● Operation
and issues related to ● Safety Design ● Safety Features ● Warnings ● Safeguards
Madden Accident Analysis & Forensic Engineering
over 30 Years Investigating, Analyzing, Reconstructing & Testifying about Accidents
Forensic Engineering & Scientific Accident Reconstruction
Copyright 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 by Madden Accident Analysis & Forensic Engineering and James D. Madden, P.E., aka James Madden and Jim Madden.
All rights reserved. This website contains photographs which are licensed with restrictions that prohibit downloading, reproduction, re-publication or re-transmission.
Madden Accident Analysis & Forensic Engineering, through its Senior Forensic Engineer, James D. Madden, P.E., a licensed professional engineer, has performed Accident Investigations, Engineering Analyses and Accident Reconstructions routinely for accidents, incidents and cases located in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New York, in the technical areas which are noted in this website, as well as providing expert reports and testifying in court proceedings in these states in the capacity of an Expert Witness, including depositions, arbitrations and/or trials, with Forensic Engineering work also performed in, and/or for cases in, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, Vermont, Kansas and Utah, with testimony in court in Kansas.
Madden Accident Analysis & Forensic Engineering
1700 West Market Street, Suite 318, Akron, Ohio 44313, or
8803 Brecksville Road, Suite 7-216, Cleveland, Ohio 44141
phone: 440-838-1191 or 440-832-9540, fax: 440-838-1192
