Mr. Parker is an experienced automotive body design engineer who specializes in vehicle body design analysis, crashworthiness, and accident reconstruction. His experience in industry and consulting includes the packaging, design, and manufacturing of most body structural systems, including roofs, doors, and energy-absorbing frame elements, as well as assessing the use of alternate materials such as composites and structural foams in vehicle structures.
Mr. Parker has over 35 years of industry experience in the design, development, testing, and analysis of the automotive products of domestic and foreign automakers and suppliers, the last 14 of which have been with Exponent. In that capacity, Mr. Parker has provided consulting services in many diverse areas, including organizational management, product design, design defect claims, accident investigation and reconstruction, and intellectual property validity/infringement issues.
His work includes evaluating the design, development, manufacturing, and assembly processes for automotive systems and components, including design and performance of vehicle body structural and glazing components, computer modeling and simulation of vehicle structures, design and testing of automotive products for compliance to United States and foreign regulatory safety requirements, and accident reconstruction and analysis. Mr. Parker’s research further extends to assessing the use of alternate materials such as composites and structural foams in vehicle structures, and analyzing the engineering design of various other consumer products.
Parker DD, Ray RM, Moore TLA, Keefer RE. Rollover severity and occupant protection—A review of NASS/CDS data. SAE Technical Paper Series, 2007-01-0676.
Prior Experience
During automotive career, was responsible for design, analysis, and testing of many component and vehicle systems in numerous automotive products, including: overall body stiffness, vibrations and energy absorption; front crash structure; roof structure; door beams; door latch reinforcements; window regulators; liftgates; decklids; door and roof glass; structural foam reinforcements; folding convertible tops; seat belt mountings; interior and exterior trim; alternative materials such as aluminum and plastic composites; and more.
Consulting ExperienceAssembled, organized, and led an engineering and design team in the development of a folding hardtop system currently in production on an automobile.
Testifying expert in accident reconstruction matters. Investigated and reconstructed numerous accidents involving pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, light trucks and SUVs, buses, heavy trucks, and more.
Testifying expert in cases involving road vehicle crashworthiness and structural design, including roof strength, door design, liftgate design, interior trim design, and more.
Testifying expert on the function, application, and performance of gas-charged support springs in various product designs.
Testifying expert on automotive body design and manufacturing processes.
Testifying expert on intellectual property validity and infringement issues pertaining to the design of an automotive convertible folding top.
Testifying expert in case involving field failures of powered automotive window regulators.