Brian A. Darr, P.E. IAAI-FIT(V), CFEI
Office: 504-322-7220
Mr. Darr has extensive experience with tire failure analysis, fire investigation, vehicle accident reconstruction, and product failure investigation. He has over 25 years of experience with tires including failure analysis, tread design, development, manufacturing, quality investigation, race tire preparation, and testing of tires at numerous testing facilities. He worked in a tire manufacturing facility as a plant technical engineer where he investigated quality related issues, and in a Research & Development (R & D) center where he designed, developed, tested, and analyzed tires. Mr. Darr has visited numerous tire production plants such as Goodyear, Bridgestone, Michelin, and Continental tire. He has inherent knowledge of the PAX run-flat tire system and C3M manufacturing process. He also was responsible for verifying standards and regulations were met, related to tire product and tire pressure monitoring sensors. Mr. Darr has been qualified as a tire expert in State and Federal court. He has completed forensic tire failure analysis on many types of tires (passenger, light truck, radial medium truck, retreads, motorcycle, etc.) in which he referenced hundreds of publicly available tire related documents. He reviews forensic tire reports from outlying offices along with providing marketing support and giving seminars nationwide.
Mr. Darr has conducted numerous vehicle and residential fire origin and cause investigations with various findings including fires that were intentionally set, accidental, and electrical in nature. He has also conducted fire suppression system investigations. Mr. Darr holds multiple fire certifications and designations with the International Association of Arson Investigators and the National Association of Fire Investigators.
In addition to conducting tire failure analysis and fire investigation, Mr. Darr’s forensic experience includes vehicle accident reconstruction for passenger and commercial vehicles, motorcycles, vehicle component failure analysis and insurance fraud/consistency evaluations. He also conducts crash data retrieval (CDR) downloads for passenger vehicles and engine control module (ECM) downloads for commercial vehicles. Mr. Darr evaluates traffic signal timing relating to intersection collisions. He also provides services in product and material failure analysis, cause analysis of plumbing failures, mechanical equipment and machinery failures, vehicle and residential fire investigations, fire suppression system investigations, lightning strike investigations, nondestructive examinations and testing, product design and assessment of conformance to government, corporate, industry, safety, and international standards.
Mr. Darr is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Quality Forensic Engineering, LLC is a full-service forensic engineering firm, providing engineering support to clients in the areas of accident reconstruction, biomechanics, fire investigations, patent litigation analysis, premises liability, product liability, and tire failure analysis. We use the latest technology and industry proven techniques to provide thorough analysis and conclusions for the most difficult engineering questions. Our forensic engineers support clients throughout the U.S. Headquartered in Tallahassee, FL, we have locations in Charlotte, NC; Columbia, SC; Indianapolis, IN; Jacksonville, FL; Melbourne, FL; New Orleans, LA; San Diego, CA; Tampa, FL and Tucson, AZ.
- Automotive Engineering
- Aviation
- Black Box/Data Recorder
- Fire
- Forensic Engineering
- Insurance Fraud
- Mechanical Engineering
- Plumbing & HVAC
- Tires
- Tractors
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A: B.S., Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 1996
Licensed Professional Engineer, Louisiana, #36957
Licensed Professional Engineer, Alabama, #32576
Licensed Professional Engineer, Arizona, #79649
Licensed Professional Engineer, Arkansas, #16538
Licensed Professional Engineer, California, #42068
Licensed Professional Engineer, Florida, #70257
Licensed Professional Engineer, Georgia, #040399
Licensed Professional Engineer, Indiana, #12300777
Licensed Professional Engineer, Kentucky, #31716
Licensed Professional Engineer, Mississippi, #25570
Licensed Professional Engineer, New Mexico, #29212
Licensed Professional Engineer, Ohio, #68140
Licensed Professional Engineer, Oklahoma, #34500
Licensed Professional Engineer, Tennessee, #120795
Licensed Professional Engineer, Texas, #121127
Certified Fire & Explosives Investigator, NAFI-CFEI #27140-115337
Certified Fire Investigation Technician for Motor Vehicle & Marine, IAAI FIT(V) #1310590
FAA Remote Pilot Certification, #1664171
Certified Fire Investigation Technician, IAAI FIT - Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)
National Safety Council (NSC) - Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
- A: Darr, Brian, “Webinar Tire Presentation”, National Association of Subrogation Professionals, May 2022
Darr, Brian, “International Association of Special Investigation Units Presentation”, September 2017
Darr, Brian, “Accident Reconstruction Presentation”, Allstate, April 2016
Darr, Brian, “Tire Presentation”, National Association of Subrogation Professionals Conference, November 2015
Darr, Brian, “Tire Presentation”, Allstate, July 2015
Darr, Brian, “Tire Presentation”, Louisiana Claims Association Conference, June 2015
Darr, Brian, “Tire Presentation”, Southwest Louisiana Claims Association, February 2015
Darr, Brian, “Accident Consistency Presentation”, State Farm, March 2013 - Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
- A: No
- Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Hundreds
- Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Tire Failure Analysis
Tire Tread Design and Imprint Analysis
Vehicle Fire Investigation
Residential Fire Investigation
Fire Suppression System Investigation
Vehicle Accidents
Motorcycle Accidents
Vehicle Component Failure Analysis
Insurance Fraud/Consistency Evaluations
Crash Data retrieval (CDR)
Tractor Trailer Electronic Control Module (ECM) Analysis
Product Failure Analysis
Lightning Strike Investigation
Product Design & Assessment - Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
- A: 40
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
- A: 60
- Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
- A: 17
- Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
- A: Recently
- Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
- A: 3
- Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
- A: 1
- Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
- A: 14
- Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
- A: consulting, inspection, testing, analysis, written reports, testifying
- Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
- A: $450
- Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
- A: $450
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
- A: $450
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
- A: $450
- Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
- A: Portal to Portal Travel Expenses
Out of Pocket Expenses
Available Upon Request