Expert's on-line resume and fee schedule.

Harris Technical Services
2338 S.W. Scodella Terrace
Port St. Lucie, Florida 34953 USA
Phone: (772) 336-2279
Facsimile: (772) 785-6095
e-mail: [email protected]

James O. Harris, Traffic Accident Reconstructionist

On active duty with the United States Air Force, 1975-1991. Achieved rank of Master Sergeant, Law Enforcement Specialist, providing training to police officers in the investigation of traffic accidents and police operations. Retired from the Air Force Reserve in 2001 with twenty-six years total military service time.

Established Harris Technical Services, Miami, Florida, in 1991 providing expert witness services in traffic accident reconstruction.

Graduated from the Air Force Security Police Academy, Law Enforcement Specialist Course, at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas (1975).

At-Scene Traffic Accident Investigator�s Course, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (1980).

Graduated from the Joint Military Traffic Accident Investigation and Traffic Management Course, with honors, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas (1985).

Advanced Traffic Accident Investigation Course, Institute of Police Technology and Management, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida (1988).

Traffic Accident Reconstruction Course, Institute of Police Technology and Management, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida (1988).

Traffic Accident Special Problems Seminar, Institute of Police Technology and Management, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida (1989/91/92/93).

Advanced Traffic Accident Reconstruction with the Use of Microcomputers, Institute of Police Technology and Management, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida (1990).

The Reconstruction of Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas (1991).

Biomechanics for the Traffic Accident Reconstructionist, Society of Automotive Engineers, Ann Arbor, Michigan (1991).

Human Reaction/Perception Times and Night Visibility, Institute of Police Technology and Management, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida (1992).

Additional courses regarding specific aspects of traffic accident investigations are attended on a regular basis to maintain proficiency. Technical seminars, which include staged collisions for research, are attended several times a year.

Over 1000 hours of specialized training in traffic accident investigation and reconstruction.

Investigated and reconstructed traffic accidents in Korea, Greece, Italy, Great Britain, Germany and the United States for the United States Air Force. Provided technical assistance to the Korean National Police, Greek National Police, Italian National Police, North Dakota Highway Patrol and various municipal police agencies in the investigation of traffic accidents.

Appointed as a technical adviser and voting member of United States Air Force Mishap Investigation Boards from 1985 through 1991.

Established Harris Technical Services in 1991 providing traffic accident reconstruction and forensic services to plaintiff and defense attorneys in civil and criminal defense cases.

Over 2500 traffic accidents investigated or reconstructed since 1983. 

National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists (NAPARS) since 1987.

Society of Accident Reconstructionists (SOAR) since 1987.

Southeast Accident Reconstruction Society (SARS) since 1998.

Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstructionists (ACTAR) 1993 - 1998.

National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists, Accident Reconstruction Journal, Cross Examination Tactics for the Expert Witness, (1989).

National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists, Accident Reconstruction Journal, Causes and Contributing Factors in Traffic Accidents, (1990).

Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, The Defender, Lamp Examination to Determine Off or On During a Collision, (1995).

Legal Information Network, Internet Web Site (LERN), Causes and Contributing Factors in Traffic Accidents, (1995).

Legal Information Network, Internet Web Site (LERN), Lamp Examination to Determine Off or On during a Collision, (1995).

Legal Information Network, Internet Web Site (LERN), Automotive Air Bags -- Injuries to Occupants from the Protective Devices, (1995).

Legal Information Network, Internet Web Site (LERN), Anti-Lock Brakes -- What They Can and Cannot Do, (1995).

Indiana Public Defender�s Council, Police Traffic Radar for Defense Attorneys, (1996).

Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators (Great Britain), Impact, Night-time Photography, 1998.

Southeast Accident Reconstruction Society, Collision, Environmental Factors in Accident Reconstruction: Determining Ambient Lighting Conditions, (1999).

Claims Magazine, Traffic Accident Reconstruction: Seeing Ambient Conditions in a New Light, (1999).

Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators (Great Britain), Impact, Environmental Factors in Traffic Accident Reconstruction - Determining Ambient Lighting Levels, (publication pending in 1999).

Society of Accident Reconstructionists, The Soarce, Environmental Factors in Traffic Accident Reconstruction - Determining Ambient Light Levels, 1999.

South Florida Investigators Association, Journal, Determining Vehicle Speeds From Skid Marks, 1999.

United States Air Force, At Scene Traffic Accident Investigation, 1985 - 2000.

Broward County Insurance Claims Adjusters Association, Automotive Air Bags Update, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (1995).

Florida Association of Insurance Claims Adjusters, Lamp Examination to Determine Off or On During a Collision, Orlando, Florida (1995).

International Association of Criminalists, 14th International Congress, Lamp Examination to Determine Off or On During a Collision, Sao Paulo, Brazil (1997).

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, CLE Seminar, Limited Damage Collision Analysis, Topeka, Kansas (1999).

Florida Association of Legal Investigators, Southeast Region, Automotive Collision Data Recorders, 2002.


FEE SCHEDULE

As of April 1, 2001

James O. Harris, Traffic Accident Reconstructionist, Harris Technical Services

Initial file review and consultation�����...NO CHARGE.
Professional Time.........................................$150.00 per hour.
Depositions and Trial Appearances.............�$250.00 per hour.
Day Rate...................................................$1000.00 per calendar day.
Vehicle Mileage����...........�..............�..$0.21 per mile, portal to portal.

Professional time includes all time except trial and deposition appearance time. Travel is portal to portal. Trial and deposition time charges are in addition to all other charges incurred for the appearance including the day rate. The day rate is applied, at our discretion, to those instances where the total professional time exceeds eight hours on any single calendar day, exclusive of time for depositions and trial testimony.

Airline fares, car rentals, taxi fares, airport parking, lodging and miscellaneous expenses are charged at cost plus 20%. First or Business Class is required for intercontinental air travel segments. All time outside of the United States is charged at the day rate commencing with the day of departure and ending with the day of return.

Travel expense and/or professional time retainers are required. The minimum retainer for professional time is $1000.00. An additional amount may be required if the projected time required will clearly exceed this amount by more than 100%. Travel retainers equal to the estimated costs, plus 20%, are required before reservations will be made or travel initiated. A signed contract is required in all instances.

Open credit accounts are at our discretion. Billing is submitted monthly except when there has been no activity during the preceding month and there is no balance due. All invoices are due and payable upon receipt. An account is delinquent when it has not been paid in full 90 days past the invoice date. No further work will be performed for a delinquent accountholder until the account is paid in full and a retainer sufficient to cover all projected further time and expenses has been received.

All unused retainer amounts are fully refunded within seven days of our receipt of the request.