Introduction

We presently have a vacancy in our Stevenage Office for a Road Traffic Accident Investigator to undertake forensic investigation of a wide range of road traffic and vehicle related incidents and accidents including vehicle component failures. These investigations will usually be undertaken in relation to criminal charges or civil liability claims. Our clients include international insurers, loss adjusters, solicitors, insurance brokers and the Police. Our clients require prompt and accurate technical advice, sometimes at very short notice, regarding the cause of the incident or accident and assistance with determining liability.

The Nature of the Work

If you are looking for a routine laboratory or an office based position then this is definitely not the job for you. We are offering you a rare opportunity to enter a unique and very rewarding profession in which the variety and the nature of the technically focussed work is extremely diverse and challenging, thus providing you with what we consider is unrivalled job satisfaction. A key attraction of this role is that you will often have the opportunity to be responsible for seeing the technical investigation through from beginning to end, from initially collecting the evidence at the scene to preparing the final technical report and ultimately giving expert evidence in Court.

You will have the opportunity to investigate a broad range of road traffic and vehicle related incidents and accidents that will require you to apply scientific and engineering principles. The unpredictable nature and location of the work are key attractions of this role.

Your work will often require you to visit the location of an incident or accident, sometimes at short notice, to record and gather evidence and to examine vehicles, vehicle components and other physical evidence, sometimes in a laboratory environment. There is also a practical element to the job in that on occasion you will be required to carefully dismantle equipment or component assemblies in a systematic manner to obtain the evidence that you require to determine the cause of a failure. This practical aspect of the work also extends to the requirement to devise and undertake ad hoc tests, as and when the need arises.

The list below provides an overview of the various aspects of the job:

• Conducting scene-based investigations to record and gather the available physical evidence.
• Preparing scene plans and undertaking time and distance studies.
• Accident reconstruction.
• Determining vehicle speeds from physical evidence and crushing damage.
• Obtaining details regarding the background and circumstances surrounding the incident by
• interviewing people associated with the incident.
• Reviewing Police reports and other documentation that may comprise photographs, plans/drawings, operating manuals and maintenance records.
• Undertaking telephone enquiries of vehicle and equipment suppliers and manufacturers to obtain technical information.
• Consulting relevant standards, regulations and other published guidance.
• Undertaking technical literature reviews.
• Providing the client with timely preliminary verbal and/or written advice in a form that can be readily understood by a layperson and ultimately a Judge.
• Examining vehicles and vehicle related components.
• Testing vehicles and vehicle related components.
• Preparing reports that may be in the form of a brief letter style report or in the form of a detailed, illustrated report for Court proceedings.
• Attending client meetings to discuss your investigation.
• Meeting with experts appointed by the other involved parties as part of the litigation process.
• Providing expert witness evidence in Court, which may involve being questioned in depth by a Barrister.

Our Requirements

The Road Traffic Accident Investigator position is a technically demanding and challenging role requiring a good understanding of scientific and engineering principles and their application.

Ideally you will:

• Have attained a good honours degree in an engineering or an appropriate science based subject, such as physics.
• Have gained several years of postgraduate experience, preferably in a science or engineering related field.
• Have an aptitude and enthusiasm for problem solving.
• Be self-motivated and be able to work effectively under pressure.
• Have experience of undertaking technical investigations.
• Have practical ability in addition to a strong academic record.
• Have the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly, both verbally and in writing, to others less informed than yourself.
• Be prepared to work unpredictable hours, as and where the work demands.
• Be prepared to provide expert witness evidence in Court when required.

Training and Prospects

Comprehensive “on-the-job” type training in the conduct of road traffic related investigations and the preparation of reports for our insurance and legal clients will mostly be provided in-house and will be supplemented on occasion by external courses. Career advancement and reward are based on ability and attitude. There may be opportunities subsequently to transfer to other offices overseas.

Package

We offer unrivalled job satisfaction and a highly competitive starting salary with unparalleled prospects. Benefits include five weeks holiday, a contributory pension scheme, medical insurance, life assurance, permanent health insurance and a company car. Where appropriate a relocation package is available.

Application

Further information and application forms are available from recruitment@burgoynes.com (please include your postal address) or alternatively write to Miss S Ambrose-Kemp, Dr JH Burgoyne & Partners LLP, 11-12 Half Moon Court, Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7HF.