Forensic engineer specialising in the investigation of failure, vehicle fire, alleged manufacturing defects, personal injury, and later monetary loss.
Worldwide
Ray Duff is a forensic engineer, specialising in ‘the investigation of failure’ including vehicle fire, manufacturing defect, personal injury, and loss investigation.
He offers full range of forensic investigative services for a wide range of clients including vehicle manufacturers, original equipment suppliers, solicitors, loss adjusters, insurers, and other automobile organisations, delivering unbiased ability in fires and alleged defects.
Having investigated over three thousand vehicle fires and 280 non-fire incidents during his 25 years with Ford Motor Co Europe. Ray has led investigations for Ford worldwide at the highest level (including Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, UK, Spain, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Greece, France, and Germany). This extensive field experience, together with the vast amount of product information, has given him a unique ability for vehicle fire and defect investigation. Reports and recommendations being clear and concise, have always been accepted without exception.
Being experienced in multiple territories he ensures utilisation and compliance of the relevant protocol and processes for the specific region and will supply a detailed high-quality data driven report that would support the conclusion, aid in prompt agreement and, later settlement.
He has led Ford engineering teams to investigate reports of road traffic collisions, some fatal, supporting various police forces, fire service, DVSA and government bodies in the UK and Ireland. He has supported high-profile litigation cases, including attending court and Coroners Inquests in the UK, N. Ireland, and South Africa.
Services include but are not limited to:
Automotive thermal event/fire investigation
Engine fuse box fire
Vehicle fire reconstruction
Vehicle rollaway after parking brake set
Risk engineering
Material and product inspection and testing
Product liability and rejection
Litigation and Expert witness support
Cause and effect, design analysis testing and reconstruction
Metallurgy, X-Ray, SEM and Chemistry
Road traffic collision investigation
Restraints and crash data analysis
Vehicle fire investigation training
Instrument panel facia fire
Unexpected loss of engine power
Battery box fire
Passenger footwell fire
Refuelling system operation failure
Exhaust fumes in passenger compartment
Run on water pump failure
Alternator pulley break up, seizure or fire
Engine overheat and consequential failure
Clutch overheat, fragmentation and/or fire
Brake system failure
High voltage cables overheat
Impartial review of OEM safety issue decisions
Loss due to manufacturing defect/issue
Ray has undertaken constant and ongoing external fire training in addition to daily updates/training on vehicle production and potential manufacturing design issues. This experience has allowed him to conduct comprehensive laboratory analysis, in-house fire propagation, product, and alleged defect testing.