The Forensic Engineers Relationship to Manufacturers in Product Cases

Abstract

Accidents are the third largest cause of death in America, taking 140,000 lives per year. Construction accidents kill about 1000 workers every year. There were nearly 640,000 construction injuries in 1989. Accidents related to highway and heavy construction account for a third of all construction fatalities according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA inspectors handled 45,000 investigations in 1990, about half of them in the construction industry. Automotive accidents take 44,000 lives a year. The direct and indirect cost of all automotive accidents is approximately $60 billion dollars per year. Many of the product accidents will result in civil law suits. Many will result in litigation against the designer and manufacturer.