Professional Biography
Amanda Duran is a Director of Accident Reconstruction at YA Group with more than 25 years of experience in the automotive engineering field, primarily focused on the investigation and reconstruction of motor vehicle crashes.
Amanda is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, with highest honors, from The University of Texas at Austin. Her work includes investigating the causes, conditions, and circumstances of motor vehicle crashes; performing crash reconstruction analyses; evaluating crash-related data; and analyzing the design and performance of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. She has received specialized technical training in crash reconstruction methodologies, event data recorder imaging and analysis, and the interpretation and application of vehicle data in crash investigations.
Credentials & Certifications
- FAA Certified Drone Pilot (FAACDP)
- CDR Technician and Data Analyst
- Professional Engineer (PE)
Professional Experience
- Principal Engineer | Carr Engineering, Inc. | 2022 - 2026
- Senior Engineer | Carr Engineering, Inc. | 2008 - 2021
- Graduate Engineer | Carr Engineering, Inc. | 2003 - 2007
Practices & Skillsets
- Drone Pilot
- Products Liability
- Vehicle Electronic Data Download
- Heavy Trucking
- Vehicle Rollover Analysis
Publications and Presentations
- Walker, J., Duran, A., Kent, S., Barnes, D. et al., "Residual “Non-Zero” Speedometer Readings in Crash Tests Using a HYGETM Crash Simulation System," SAE Technical Paper 2026-01-0537, 2026. (April 2026)
- Walker, J., Duran, A., Barnes, D., Osterhout, A. et al., "Inertial Pedal Displacement and Brake Switch Activation in Frontal Crash Events," SAE Technical Paper 2026-01-0541, 2026. (April 2026)
- Rucoba, R., Liebbe, R., Duran, A., and Carr, L., "The Effectiveness of the National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) in Evaluating the Effect of Tire Tread Belt Detachments," SAE Technical Paper 2013-01-0467, 2013, https://doi.org/10.4271/2013-01-0467. (April 2013)
- Rucoba, R., Duran, A., Carr, L., and Erdeljac, D., "A Three-Dimensional Crush Measurement Methodology using Two-Dimensional Photographs," SAE Technical Paper 2008-01-0163, 2008, https://doi.org/10.4271/2008-01-0163. (April 2008)
- Duran, A., Carr, L., and Liebbe, R., "Evaluation of Suspension Characteristics in Response to Cyclical Vertical Accelerations," SAE Technical Paper 2010-01-0106, 2010, https://doi.org/10.4271/2010-01-0106. (April 2010)
Education
- Bachelor of Science (BS), Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 2002
Training Courses
- Applied Brake Controls Test Track Experience: ABS, TCS, ESC, SAE (2026)
- Driver Distraction from Electronic Devices, SAE (2021)
- Accident Reconstruction, the Autonomous Vehicle and ADAS, SAE (2020)
- Applied Vehicle Dynamics, SAE (2019)
- ADAS Application: Automatic Emergency Braking, SAE (2024)
- Reconstruction and Analysis of Rollover Crashes in Light Vehicles, SAE (2018)
- Introduction to Highly Automated Vehicles, SAE (2017)
- Applying Automotive EDR Data to Traffic Crash Reconstruction, SAE (2015)
- Applying Automotive EDR Data to Traffic Crash Reconstruction, SAE (2025)
- Accessing and Interpreting Heavy Vehicle Event Data Recorders (, SAE (2014)
- Introduction to Brake Control Systems: ABS, TCS, ESC, SAE (2010)
- Vehicle Dynamics for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks, SAE (2010)
- Part 107 (sUAS) Drone License, FAA (2017)
- Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) Technician and Analyst Course (2009)
- Northwestern University Center for Public Safety Traffic Accident Reconstruction Course (2006)
Affiliations
- Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE)
Professional Licenses
- Professional Engineer (PE) - Texas - License #101056