Driver Distraction Expert Witnesses

Windsor, Ontario

Human Factors, Transportation - Driver distraction, Distracted driving, automated, autopilot, fatigue, cellphone, accident, behavior, perception reaction times, trucking, reaction times, Mobile, multitasking, driving, drowsiness, autonomous driving, self-driving, behaviour, PRT, attention

Dr. Francesco Biondi is a Human Factors specialist and expert witness with extensive experience analyzing how attention, perception, cognitive workload, and decision‑making influence driver behavior and accident outcomes. His work spans distracted driving, human‑machine interaction, driver monitoring, and the behavioral mechanisms that contribute to crashes in both manually driven and partially automated vehicles. A core area of Dr. Biondi’s research focuses on driver distraction and over‑reliance on partially automated driving systems, including Tesla Autopilot and other Level 2 systems. His studies investigate how automation affects driver attention, situational awareness, hazard detection, trust, misuse, and fallback performance. He frequently evaluates cases where questions arise about automation complacency, driver disengagement, system alerts, and human‑factors expectations in automation‑related crashes. Dr. Biondi has served as an expert witness in both Canada and the United ...

Irmo, South Carolina

Human Factors, Premises Liability - Accident Prevention, Risk Management, Illumination, Conspicuity, Visual Perception, Slip resistance, Playground Safety, Premises Liability, Lighting, Line of Sight, Driver Distraction, Roadway Markings, Environmental Conditions, Slip-Trip- Fall Evaluations, Workplace Injuries, Human Factors, OSHA

Ellen Szubski, Ph.D., is the senior human factors consultant at The Warren Group. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Factors Psychology and a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from Clemson University. Ellen is also a Certified XL Tribometrist, a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI), and a Certified Associate Human Factors Professional (AHFP). Ellen worked in the Clemson Visual Perception and Performance Laboratory examining the factors contributing to the conspicuity of pedestrians and bicyclists in challenging road conditions, such as nighttime driving. She did her dissertation on “The Influence of Pedestrian Biological Motion on Time-To-Collision Estimates at Night”. Prior to entering the forensic field, Ellen planned and conducted experiments for a major bicycle manufacturer that improved bicycle conspicuity. She also conducted laser strike perception and performance studies for the Department of Defense. Ellen applies her experience in Human Factors t...