Knott Laboratory provides forensic engineering and animation, Civil & Structural, and Fire & Explosion Investigation services to reconstruct accidents.


Forklift Accidents

There are approximately 68,400 forklift accidents in general industry every year.


Forklifts are indispensible pieces of material handling equipment that facilitate the movement of goods in warehouses, retail and industrial environments. Forklifts routinely move goods safely and efficiently, however, forklifts are also frequently involved in accidents resulting in injury or death. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has stated that there are approximately 68,400 forklift accidents in general industry per year. Knott Laboratory engineers have investigated forklift accidents involving tipover or stability related accidents, dropped loads, pedestrian collision accidents, stand-up or narrow aisle forklift accidents and rough terrain forklift accidents, among others.

Our investigation of forklift accidents have ranged from the reconstruction of the accident to product liability evaluations for both plaintiffs and defendants. Knott Laboratory engineers apply physics based principles to the reconstruction of forklift accidents, and our mechanical, electrical, and safety engineering expertise to evaluate product liability claims.

Publications List

The experts at Knott Laboratory have been published in many engineering journals. While most of these essays are quite detailed, these short abstracts express a summary of the overall papers that were published.

Forensic Engineering Use of Computer Animation and Graphics

Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers
December, 2006

Forensic Engineering Assessment of Safety for Stand Up Forklifts

Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers
June, 2008

Hazard Analysis And Risk Assessment For The Operators of Stand-up Forklifts

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
November, 2008

Stand-Up Forklift Acceleration

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
November, 2010

Newest Trends in Accident Reconstruction

The Lawyer’s LogBook, Vol. 2, No. 5
2013

Stand-Up Forklift Egress Times as a Function of Operator Compartment Guarding

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition
2014, November

Current Assessment of Stand-Up Forklifts’ Underride Accidents

Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers
January 2023

Experts in the Field

Our forensic engineers are experts in accident reconstruction, failure analysis and cause & origin. Our forensic engineers work directly with our in-house animation department to create state-of-the-art forensic animations for use in court, arbitration, mediation or settlement negotiations.

Richard M. Ziernicki, Ph.D., P.E., DFE

Principal Engineer

(303) 925-1900

Ricky L. Nguyen, M.S., P.E., DFE

Subject Matter Expert

(303) 925-1900

Brandon Stone

Accident Reconstructionist

(303) 925-1900

Seth J. Behrens, P.E., DFE

Engineering Manager

(303) 925-1900

Brent R. Graham

Accident Reconstruction Manager

(303) 925-1900

Jason P. Evans, M.B.A., B.S.

Project Engineer

(303) 925-1900

Henry “Hank” V. Mowry, P.E., DFE

Director of Engineering

(303) 925-1900

View Samples of our Work

Since 1982, Knott Laboratory has been providing comprehensive forensic engineering and computer animation services to reconstruct accidents.

What others have to say about our work


High Profile Cases

Knott Laboratory has become the leader in forensic engineering and computer animation by investigating high profile cases and conveying our analysis effectively during litigation.