Biomechanics

Biomechanical Services

Biomechanics is defined as the science of how the human body responds to applied internal and external forces, noting that specific applied loads can cause injuries. YA Group’s biomechanic experts evaluate the forces and movements involved in an event, whether defined as an auto accident, a slip and fall, or a work-related event, to understand the resulting impacts on the human body. We evaluate the complex motions of the various body parts relative to their environment in an event and draw on our extensive engineering knowledge and training to analyze injury mechanisms, injury risks, and biomechanical causation of injuries. Our biomechanical engineers determine the effects of impacts and torque on the human body by leveraging our knowledge of how forces impact bones, ligaments, tendons, organs, blood vessels, and nerves under various mechanical loads.

Breadth of Expertise

At YA Group, our expertise is applied across a wide range of events including vehicle accidents; slips, trips and falls; workplace and industrial accidents; sports and recreational activities; fights or assaults; and incidents involving failed products like medical implants and consumer products. In the context of collisions, the services may involve investigating collision severity, occupant restraint usage, occupant compartment intrusion, vehicle rollover, occupant ejection, and pedestrian collisions.

A core function of biomechanical services is to assess whether reported injuries are consistent with the actual event. Our experts use advanced forensic analysis and engineering techniques, examining specific injuries and applying knowledge of injury mechanisms to determine if pathological loading was generated during the subject incident. Key factors considered include body positioning, occupant dynamics, force direction, and the contribution of pre-existing conditions.

Proven Process

Our objective evidence-based methodology relies on a structured process. Our process begins with data collection (including medical records, accident reports, EDR data, photographs, and witness statements), followed by accident reconstruction (collision dynamics analysis, slip/trip and fall analysis, etc.), which determines the physical details of the incident. To understand injury plausibility, our experts utilize scientific, research-backed analysis techniques such as biomechanical modeling and simulations, occupant kinematics analysis, and published research literature. These tools help visualize how the body moved and where stresses were most likely to occur, informing an injury risk assessment.

Upon completion, our experts provide clear, scientifically grounded opinions regarding causation and injury plausibility, which aids attorneys, insurers, and claims professionals in distinguishing fact from speculation. This scientific understanding informs legal and insurance-related decisioning.