Tyler Black

About Tyler Black

My love for engineering was born in 7th grade when my science class carved racecars out of wood blocks. The 20 or 30 little cars were powered by CO2 cartridges and guided by wires spanning across the classroom. Focusing on aerodynamics and lightweighting, I sanded and polished my little speedster. On race day my car not only won the class competition, but it was the first to ever beat the teacher’s car. That wooden car still sits in my office next to my Mechanical Engineering degrees, professional licenses, and certifications, a reminder of where my inspiration and competitive spirit came from. I still get to play with cars, but now my work is much more serious. My clients in the transportation world turn to me when there has been an accident, usually with serious injuries or fatalities. My job is to collect evidence, figure out exactly what happened, and present it in a way that anyone can understand. The coolest thing about my job is the cutting-edge technology. I get to fly drones, use 3D scanners, and operate 360-degree cameras. I can download black box data from cars, trucks, and motorcycles. I \"play\" with advanced simulation software to model vehicle accidents in 3D using the physical evidence, black box data, and scientific principles. I create videos and illustrations of what happened and where things went wrong. I can sit in the driver’s seat (virtually!) and see what the driver saw…or could have seen if they were looking. I do full-scale reenactments and have used cars, trucks, motorcycles, farm equipment and even a bulldozer to study what happened in the moments before a crash. Sharing my findings with others is what I am truly passionate about. My coworkers are some of the brightest engineers and professionals in the world and we are constantly learning from each other. My clients are attorneys, insurance companies, and commercial vehicle fleets who rely on my experience and insight to improve safety and manage cases worth millions of dollars. Testifying at a jury trial is the ultimate test, when a group of complete strangers will judge my work and my credibility in a high-stakes competition with millions of dollars on the line-I can’t imagine a more exciting or rewarding career!

Experience

1. Area Lead, Senior Engineer

   J.S. Held LLC

   Nov 2022 — Present · Charlotte, NC, US

   Tyler Black is an SAE and ACTAR certified forensic engineering and accident reconstruction specialist based in Charlotte, NC. With over 15 years of experience, Mr. Black provides consulting and expert services for both plaintiff and defense law firms, commercial vehicle fleets, and insurance clients throughout the country. He holds professional engineering licenses in three states, and has been retained as an expert in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Florida, Tennessee, and others. He employs the latest technology in the preservation of evidence and reconstruction of accidents involving heavy trucks, passenger vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, ATVs, side-by-sides and golf carts. His specialized expertise includes vehicle Event Data Recorders (EDR) including Heavy Vehicles (HVEDR), telematics, human factors, Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS), active safety systems, collision mitigation systems, brake systems, tire failures, vehicle rollovers, video analysis, simulations, and animations.J.S. Held is a global consulting firm providing technical, scientific, and financial expertise across all assets and value at risk. Our professionals serve as trusted advisors to organizations facing high-stakes events demanding urgent attention, staunch integrity, clear-cut analysis, and an understanding of both tangible and intangible assets. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services, products, and data that enable clients to navigate complex, contentious, and often catastrophic situations.Find your expert at

Education

• Purdue University

  MSME, Mechanical Engineering

  2008 — 2011

• Clemson University

  BSME, Mechanical Engineering

  1998 — 2002

Skills

• Dynamics
• Structural Analysis
• Continuous Improvement
• Expert Witness
• Forensic Engineering
• Consulting
• Photogrammetry
• Mechanical Engineering
• Human Factors
• Autocad
• Engineering
• Accident Reconstruction
• Vehicle Dynamics
• Creative Problem Solving
• Machine Design
• Analysis