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Brake fluid failure?
The brakes on the insured’s 2004 GMC Yukon smelled hot and then locked up. The dealer thought that the brake fluid was contaminated, possibly the result of vandalism. GEI was assigned to investigate. We were additionally assigned to identify any indications of forced entry to the interior or the engine compartment. The vehicle was inspected at the local Chevrolet dealer, with the Assistant Service Manager also in attendance. He stated that no work had been performed on the vehicle since it came onto the premises. The exterior of...
read more“Black Box” or EDR laws for 2015
You may have seen news articles last week about a bill passed by the Senate and on its way to the House that requires auto manufacturers to install “black boxes” in new vehicles starting 2015. Privacy advocates are heating up the Internet with alarming references to Big Brother. Here is a short synopsis of the what is going on. By some estimates, over 90% of cars on the road today already have “black boxes” installed in them. The automotive “black box” is better defined as the air bag control module. This device deploys...
read moreGary Hansen, P. E.
Mr. Hansen is a licensed Traffic Engineer and licensed Civil Engineer in the State of California. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from UCLA and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. He provides expertise in roadway design and traffic engineering including traffic signal operations, traffic signs and pavement markings, sight distance analysis and parking lot layout. Gary also sits on the annual panel of experts in Sacramento that develop and review the...
read moreGuest Column by Bill Nailling – Sidewalk Accidents: Responsibility versus Liability
Who is liable when a pedestrian trips and falls on “your” sidewalk? The sidewalk that runs in front of your home doesn’t belong to you. It’s the City’s property and most property owners assume it is the City’s responsibility to repair if it cracks or is damaged by tree roots. Guess what? The City can legally ask you to fix it or even do the repairs and then send you the bill! Under a California statute enacted in 1941 as an amendment to the Improvement Act of 1911, Section 5610 of the California Streets and...
read moreToyota brake failure?
Our client contacted us to inspect and photograph their insured’s 2000 Toyota 4Runner which was recently involved in an accident. The driver said that the brakes failed, which caused them to crash. The vehicle had brake work done 7 months earlier, so we were asked to identify any conditions or defects in the brake or throttle systems, which could have caused or contributed to the accident and to research recalls for the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected two weeks after the date of loss. The driver and passenger air bags were both...
read moreWilliam Nailling
William A. Nailling, PLS is a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the State of California. His career started over 30 yrs. ago fresh out of school as a chainman on a field crew. His intense work ethic led him to become a highly respected and valued professional for several well known engineering and surveying firms in Southern California. Mr. Nailling’s experience includes construction surveys, property line disputes and resolution, accident surveys, site monitoring and earthquake deformation surveys. Mr. Nailling is a consultant to the...
read moreDavid Grimes
David Grimes is a licensed land surveyor and cartographer. His areas of expertise include land surveying, property line disputes, building setbacks, easements, and certified court maps. He has made over 5,000 court exhibits over the last 40 years. His exhibits have been accepted from all of the Superior Courts in Southern California.
read morePresident’s Message: CDR Users Summit 2012
Last month I attended the 2012 Bosch CDR Users Summit in Houston. This is the annual get-together for Bosch CDR users where we hear presentations on how to more effectively use the technology and what changes are in the pipeline. A dozen or so speakers filled two and a half days with a lot of information. While most of the presentations were specifically useful to Bosch CDR users, some of the information may be of interest to you as well. First, we heard about the “Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020”. This is a program...
read moreSo what’s up with the roof?
By Greg Dodd and Doug Garrett Your insured claims that the recent wind storms damaged his roof. That 50 foot high Douglas Fir now resting in the dining room didn’t help it either. Aside from wind and trees, what else causes roof damage? If we keep Mother Nature out of the picture, there are numerous roof problems that can be caused by poor workmanship and/or incorrect material selection. Building codes and manufacturers’ installation guides call for specific roof slopes for various materials; 3-tab asphalt shingles, clay/concrete...
read moreNew Years resolutions
Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. — Mark Twain Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account. — Oscar Wilde Talk about losing one’s inhibitions! Some people drink so much on New Year’s Eve, they actually kiss to person to whom they are married! — P.J. O’Roarke An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up all night to make sure the old...
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