Michael J. Kuzel, P.E., CHFP

Mr. Kuzel addresses issues related to human factors and accident reconstruction. Specifically, Mr. Kuzel applies his education, experience, and training from engineering and psychology toward the analysis of human capabilities, performance and behavior, and the interactions of humans with environments, products, and/or tasks.

He has analyzed a wide array of interactions involving passenger vehicles, heavy trucks, construction vehicles, industrial equipment, motorcycles and bicycles, locomotives, environmental conditions related to slip-trip-fall incidents, and consumer products. Within these scenarios, he has addressed human factors issues related to visibility and lighting, audible alarms and warnings, signage, reaction time, attention and information processing, memory, environment/product/task design, and human physical performance and behavior.

In addition to conducting human factors analyses, Mr. Kuzel is experienced in accident reconstruction analyses. Mr. Kuzel has reconstructed accidents involving planar collisions (low and high speed), rollovers, heavy trucks, heavy machinery, motorcycles and bicycles, and pedestrians. He has conducted low-speed crash tests, vehicle component tests, and restraint system tests. He has experience using traditional methodologies and computer programs and simulations in accident reconstruction.

Prior to his career in the field of accident investigation, Mr. Kuzel held several positions in industry. As a biomechanical engineer, he assisted in the development, sales, and marketing of a medical device that assessed cervical spine motion. He worked as a research engineer conducting testing of orthopedic constructs and instruments, and participated in research projects related to design and testing of new orthopedic devices. In addition, Mr. Kuzel has acted as a technical consultant to hospitals in the areas of equipment management and analysis, system acquisition and implementation, quality assurance and safety.

Mr. Kuzel has been admitted to testify in state and federal court in the areas of human factors, accident reconstruction, and biomechanics.

Kuzel MJ, Heller MF, Sala JB, Ciccarelli L, Gray R. An analysis of real-world accidents involving distracted pedestrians. Proceedings, XXth Annual International Occupational Ergonomics and Safety Conference, Chicago, IL, 2008.

Kuzel M, Heller M, Gray R, DiJorio S, Straughn S. Perception and cognition during walking while concurrently using a cellular phone. Proceedings, International Conference on Contemporary Ergonomics, Nottingham, UK, April 1–3, 2008.

Heller M, DiJorio S, Kuzel M, Carhart M, Ciccarelli L. Effect of shoe type on kinematics of stair negotiation in women. Proceedings, International Conference on Contemporary Ergonomics, Nottingham, UK, April 1–3, 2008.

Larson R, Fowler GF, Kuzel M, Stubbs A, Brown J, Donelson AC. Single-vehicle rollovers involving an initial off-roadway excursion followed by a return to roadway: A NASS study and Vehicle Response Measurement. SAE 2008-01-0159, SAE 2008 World Congress, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, PA, April 2008.

Kuzel M, Krauss D, Moralde M, Kubose T. Comparison of subjective ratings of slipperiness to the measured slip resistance of real-world walking surfaces. Proceedings, International Conference on Slips, Trips and Falls 2007—From Research to Practice, Hopkinton, MA, IEA Press, August 23–24, 2007.

Krauss D, Kuzel M, Cassidy P, Goodman J. A review of technologies for studying visual perception under low-illumination conditions. Proceedings, 50th Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Santa Monica, CA, 2006.

Cargill R, Scher I, Vijayakumar V, Richards D, Kuzel M. Examining bumper cars as a surrogate for low-speed rear-end and frontal collisions. Oral presentation, Occupational and Impact Injury Biomechanics, 5th World Congress of Biomechanics, Munich, Germany, July 31, 2006.

Krauss D, Kuzel M, Arndt S, Delahunt P. Validation of digital image representations of low-illumination scenes. SAE 2006-01-1288, SAE 2006 World Congress, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, PA, April 2006.

Kuzel M, Richard D, Werner S. The effect of stiffness coefficients on output variables in EDSMAC4 Simulations. SAE 2006-01-1396, SAE 2006 World Congress, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, PA, April 2006.

Kuzel M. Office lighting and worker productivity: An interrupted time series quasi-experiment. Thesis submitted in completion of Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, August 2000.

Invited Talks and Courses Taught

Kuzel M. Collecting physical evidence to prepare a complete and accurate case. Presented at the 2007 Grand Canyon Super Conference of the Arizona Association of Licensed Private Investigators, October 21, 2007.

Kuzel M. Human factors in accident reconstruction. Presented at the Eagle International Associates, Inc., Fall 2006 Conference, October 20, 2006.

Kuzel M. Human factors in accident reconstruction. Invited talk at the Southwest Association of Traffic Accident Investigators (SATAI), Spring 2006 Conference, March 4, 2006.

Kuzel M. Simulation of off-road excursion and re-entry using SIMON. Presented at the 2006 HVE Forum, February 2006.

Kuzel M. Collecting physical evidence to prepare a complete and accurate case. Presented at the National Association of Legal Investigators Mid-Winter Meeting, January 21, 2006.

Kuzel M. Collecting evidence: Satisfy the needs of claims personnel and expert witnesses: Accident scene investigations, vehicle inspections, and witness statements. Presented at the PLRB/LIRP Regional Adjusters Conferences: Charlotte, NC, June 21–22, 2005; Indianapolis, IN, September 13–14, 2005; Anaheim, CA, November 1–2, 2005.

Courses taught for Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR): Fundamentals of Collision Repair; Damage Analysis; Worker Protection; Corrosion Protection; Restraints; Advanced Restraint Systems; Electrical Circuits And DVOM Usage; Diagnosis, Testing, And Repair Of Common Electrical Loads. Various dates 2002–2006.

• Society of Automotive Engineers (member)
• American Society of Safety Engineers (member)
• Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (member)
• ASTM International F13 Pedestrian/Walkway Safety and Footwear Committee (member)
• International Society of Occupational Ergonomics and Safety (member; 2008 officer)