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| (Schrader’s investigation helped a fellow engineer obtain monies for this truck crushed by a piece of heavy equipment at the Union Parish, Louisiana, landfill.) |
| Because of his training in accident reconstruction, and because of the reputation Michael H. Schrader, P.E., has gained throughout his career for impartiality, Schrader has been contacted by not only attorneys and engineers but also property owners and motorists to provide assistance in performing engineering investigations and to provide expert testimony in litigation. In Gold Star Farms v. Denali Development, Schrader’s testimony helped caused modification to an inadequate retention facility in a new development which was contributing to the flooding of an adjacent farm. In another case, Schrader helped a fellow engineering practitioner obtain funds from an insurance company for a vehicle which had been crushed by a piece of heavy equipment. A case-ography is as follows: |
| Accident Investigation and Expert Witness |
| All material copyright 2007 by Michael H. Schrader. |
| Last updated 05 July 07 |
| 1992. Schrader was asked to investigate collisions attributable to the presence of a raised median in Stevenson Drive, Springfield, Illinois. Schrader concluded that it enough extenuating circumstances at the time of the accidents existed to attribute all of the accidents on the presence of the median. 1994. Schrader was interviewed by a St. Louis television station about a traffic accident in which three teenagers were killed and a fourth, the driver, was in critical condition. The teenagers were returning from a party in which alcohol had been consumed. Based upon a site visit, Schrader concluded that there was a good probability that the accident would have occurred even if the driver had not consumed any alcohol. Schrader was retained by an attorney regarding a traffic accident in which the driver struck an object and was killed. Schrader was asked for his expertise regarding governmental responsibilities to ensure a safe driving environment. 1997. Schrader was deposed in a traffic accident case in which a vehicle crossed the centerline and struck another head-on. Schrader's involvement pertained to inadequate lane size and the inability of the driver to stay in her lane because of it. 1998. Schrader testified on behalf of the plaintiff in Gold Star Farms v Denali Development, in which Gold Star Farms was experiencing flooding due to the development of an adjacent property. Settlement was rendered in favor of the Plaintiff. Schrader testified on behalf of a property owner who was denied a permit to build a garage by a local municipality. The municipality's denial was overturned by the court as it had no justification in the municipality's zoning ordinance. ("Arbitrary and Capricious") Schrader investigated a traffic accident at an intersection that was experiencing gridlock to determine which vehicle had the right-of-way and who should be cited. Schrader was retained by a fellow engineer to investigate an accident in which the engineer's truck was crushed by heavy equipment. As a result of Schrader's investigation, the engineer received an insurance settlement. 1999. Schrader was retained by a homeowner as a expert in ligitation involving a drainage issue with the adjacent property owner. (A brick fence changed the drainage pattern.) The litigation was settled out-of-court. Schrader was consulted by an attorney on a potential case involving interior and exterior flooding. 2001. Schrader performed an inspection on a house that had several deficiencies resulting in litigation. Schrader reconstructed a truck underride accident that occurred in the fog. Schrader investigated deficiencies of material and its placement with respect to pedestrian slippage in inclement weather. Schrader represented a property owner with respect to strategies for mitigating future flooding. Schrader investigated the possible contribution of roadway and bridge deficiencies in a traffic accident. In a criminal trial, Schrader testified regarding the similarities between the behaviors of intoxicated and sleep deprived motorists and the deficiencies of the roadway environment. 2002. Schrader investigated poor construction with respect to several shoulder drop-off accidents on a rural highway. Schrader investigated the contribution of poor roadway design in a motorcycle accident in which the passenger was killed and the driver was charged with "Intoxicated Homicide". As a result of Schrader's investigation, the charges were reduced to "Manslaughter". Schrader was called to investigate a fatal pickup-truck collision on a rural highway within 72 hours of its occurrance. Schrader investigated an insurance claim involving the right angle collision of an SUV in which the driver was injured and suffered memory loss with a semi-trailer. Schrader investigated whether poor road conditions may have contributed to the accident. 2003. Schrader investigated whether poor design and excessively high speed limits caused a fatal run-off-the-road accident. 2006. Schrader investigated whether or not parking restrictions in the vicinity of the Bush Ranch was a legitimate traffic safety issue. 2007. Schrader investigated poor construction/maintenance issues with respect to a fatal shoulder drop-off/cross-over accident on a high-speed rural highway. |
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