Typical cases handled by Richard R. Ruth, P.E., prior to becoming an independent consultant:

Event Data Recorder Readout
An on duty policeman was alleged to be traveling a high rate of speed allegedly not called for by the situation.  A civilian vehicle pulled out in front of the officer and a serious collision followed resulting in serious personal injury to the civilian. I consulted with the investigating agency, advised them that there were not one but two electronic modules with potentially relevant data within the vehicle, and explained how to remove the modules without spoliating evidence.  I performed a forensically neutral readout of both modules, and interpreted the data for the investigating agency.  The readouts objectively showed the officer’s driving behavior prior to impact.  

Airbag Non-deployment – Threshold Issue  
A driver alleged that the airbags did not deploy when they should have when he impacted a pole.  The vehicle had already been repaired and only photographs of crash damage were available. At the request of counsel, I inspected the vehicle and determined that many of the parts listed on the repair estimate had in fact not been replaced and the damage was far less than the damage estimate implied.  By checking date codes and witness marks I was able to determine that all the components of the airbag system were still original equipment, and tested the system to determine that it was still in proper working order at the time of the inspection, and could and would deploy the airbags if a crash that met the manufacturer’s deployment threshold was reached.  I gave deposition testimony prior to the matter resolving. 

Alleged Airbag Inadvertent Deployment
A driver alleged that the airbags deployed spontaneously causing the driver to lose control and go off the road, striking an embankment.   I inspected the vehicle, read out the Restraint Control Module and had the data interpreted by the automaker’s supplier.  By researching the time that it takes to set fault codes in the module, I was able to determine conclusively that the airbag deployed when commanded as a result of the strike with the embankment and not spontaneously on the roadway as the driver alleged.   I also tested the system thoroughly and determined it was in proper working order even after the accident.

Airbag Non-deployment in Severe Impact
A driver drifted off the road late at night and struck a large utility pole at over 40mph.  The airbag did not deploy and the driver died as a result of the accident.  The Restraint Control Module supplier read out the module and determined there were no faults present prior to the crash that would prevent the airbag from deploying.   I inspected the vehicle and the accident scene and determined that the vehicle had impacted another object a short distance before the utility pole.  I reviewed the manufacturer’s deployment calibration signoff and determined that there was a specific feature in the algorithm intended to suppress airbag deployment if the module inferred that the occupant may be significantly out of position from a preceding event.  I determined that this was the most likely explanation for why the airbag did not deploy, and that in fact the airbag system had worked as intended for the subject collision.   I wrote expert reports and gave both corporate and expert depositions in the case.

Set up Manufacturer Event Data Recorder (EDR) readout program with Vetronix
My company received many requests from safety researchers, law enforcement, and third parties for EDR data.  To relieve the readout burden, I set up a relationship with the Vetronix company.  For one module family, I personally met with technical specialists and gathered the information necessary to write a specification to establish communication with the module, read the data, and interpret it.  For other module families I directed others to create the specification, then I personally led the field testing and debugging of the readout program.  I assisted subsidiary divisions of my company in how to set up their relationship with Vetronix.

The new NHTSA Part 563 requires automakers with EDR’s to make provisions for publicly available readout of the contents.   The work I did lays the groundwork for meeting the new regulation.