Calif-legal.com: California Expert Witness, Leonard Lacaze, PE, Accident Reconstruction, Failure Analysis, Seatbelts, Airbag, Airbags, Restraint Systems, Occupant Kinematics, Autmotive, Mechanical Engineering Expert Witness

Areas of Expertise:
Air Bag & Seat Belt Analysis, Engine, Drive Train, Transmission Failure, Electric & Electromechanical Component Failure, Occupant Kinematics, Suspension & Steering Failure, Hydraulic System Failure Analysis, Analysis of Wheel & Axle Failure

Summary of Experience:
Registered Professional Engineer in the States of Michigan and California. He has over 43 years experience in design & development in the automotive industry in addition to having provided accident reconstruction and failure analysis & research in mechanical and electrical products for vehicles for many of those years. Mr. Lacaze was on the "ground floor" through the early development of the Air Bag Occupant Restraint System and holds the patent for a crash sensor system that is in many cars today. Along with the air bag development, Mr. Lacaze performed accident reconstruction involving barrier and car-to-car crash testing in order to maximize protection for occupants. He therefore developed a keen sense of occupant kinematics and vehicle structural integrity in addition to being involved in continuing research methods and accident investigation for more than 30 years.

Licences and Other Credentials:
Member of Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Holds patents for Automotive Air Bag Crash Sensor System, Low Insertion Force Electrical Contract, Method of Manufacture of Electrical Contracts, and Coupling Mechanism for Electrical Connectors. Private Pilot - Instrument Rated - Airplane, Complex, High Performance, Glider Ratings and Endorsements.