Recreational Vehicle Expert Witness Service
Who Are We?
Paul and Mao Unmack are Professional Engineers licensed in Machine Design and Control Systems. The proper application of science combined with extensive RV and automotive experience is how cases are won. We are committed to RV safety and understand the systems that can fail due to many issues in RVs that result in damage to life and property. Practical experience combined with academic knowledge to understand failure modes is needed by experts, but rarly found in a single team that can economicly bring cases to a desirable conclusion.
About Photo: We chose this photo because it reflects the fact that we live in our RV for extended periods of time. We live a life of adventure, therefore we understand how to not only maintain and fix the systems found in all RVs, we use them on a daily basis.
When we started practicing RV expert witness science, we came to find in short order that a majority of the experts had very little practical RV experience. This resulted in experts making decisions without relevant information or knowledge based on the complexity of an RV. Without a working knowledge of RVs, a holistic approach was not taken in order to advance the case toward a desirable outcome.
Practicing Disciplines - Areas of Expertise
Appliance Failure and Fire
- Refrigerator
- Furnace
- Stove Top and Oven
- Heaters
LP Gas Fires and Explosions
- LP Regulators
- LP Tanks
- LP Plumbing
- LP Fridge
Electrical Failures and Fires
- Solar Systems
-
Mixed
12VDC & 120VAC
Power
Advanced Strengths of Material Analysis
- Dynamic Road Failures
- Frames
- Plumbing
- Electrical Connections
Design of Experiment, Proof of Incident, & Documentation Facts
This video makes a counterclaim to an opposing expert by the design of an experiment that refutes assumptions. The experiment proves that an explosion caused a component to be removed from the RV. Which in turn brings into question the claim that our client removed a component that was considered an RV safety device.
The video above is a test that we designed to counter an opposing expert that made claims about how a critical part failed. This particular part was a major contributer to the RV explosion and resulting fire. With application of the laws of physics combined with instrumentation to document the test we proved the failure mode for the part in question which gave a favorable outcome to this case.
Upon request we will provide an expert rebuttal report that contributed to a multi million dollar settlement in this particular case.
The above video is a demonstration of electrical instrumentation combined with documentation capabilities for producing work product.
Frequently Asked Questions
• Avoid disturbing anything.
- The fire department will disturb things.
- The fire department should file a report, but to be careful hire an expert as soon as possible to inspect the fire seen.
- Start by distinguishing the final state of things like appliances before and after fighting the fire.
- Be sure to call your insurance company as soon as possible.
- Check to make sure the LP gas is turned off and any batteries are disconnected.
- Make sure the shore power circuit breaker is in the off position.
- After the fire department is done, document the seen but do not disturb things until your insurance adjuster and an expert witness can document the seen with you.
- If two people can document, this is best, one with camera and the other taking notes while being observer and witness.
- Be sure to document and photograph the initial state of any thing that is moved during the inspection, or by the fire department.
- Take a lot of photos in case one photos is unsuccessful. You can delete photos you do not like.
- Use the cameras highest resolution, as expert witnesses, we see things in our high resolution photos that are important.
- Take 3 shots of items of interest:
1) Distant (the big picture).
2) Medium (close enough to distinguish the item in relation to things around it).
3) Close Up (get different angles of item of interest, take lots of photos).
• Documentation for the RV.
- Round up any photos of your RV before the fire. Experts Witness & Insurance use these photos to identify parts of the RV for before and after comparisons.
- Round up any documentation for the RV such as purchase receipts, appliance and accessories manuals, and anything that will help identify the RV components and how you used them.
- Check to see if you have Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI), and/or independent inspection documentation.
• Attorney & Expert Inspection.
- For the folloing steps, we as experts can help because saving money is important and we have a low rate for advising expert cause & origin inspection.
- The first step is to find a personal injury lawyer.
- The expert witness that determines cause & origin of the fire will be hired by the personal injury lawyer.
Independent Consultants
Paul & Mao Unmack, PEs
• 46 Years Automotive Repair & Electrical Expertise
• Pressure Vessel; Welding; Controls Systems Engineering
• Design; Fabricate; & Use of RVs for over
50 Years
• Patented Solution to Long Felt
Safety Need for RVs
3024 Wharton
Butte, MT 59701
Website:
Fridge Defend by ARP
The consultants listed below are professionals that we have working experience with. If one desires to contact any of these individuals please use the ‘Contact Us’ button at the top of the page if direct contact info is not given below.
Please note that all consultants listed on this page are independent, therefore all work preformed by them is according to any arrangements between the independent consultant and the client.
James (Jim) Koca, RV & Collision Investigation and Reconstruction
• Texas Peace Officer for over 50 years
• Instructor in Escapees RV Club's Boot Camp, Beyond RV Boot Camp and RV On-line University
• Instructor in Collision Investigation and Reconstruction
• RV Inspector - Retired
• Traveled in RV for over 26 years
3024 Wharton
Butte, MT 59701
Website:
Fridge Defend by ARP
Carmen Vertullo, Fastener Expert
Carver Engineering and Manufacturing
Carver Labs
•
NFDA’s 2023 Fastener Professional of the Year
•
Fastener Hall of Fame Inductee
1920 Cordell Ct, Ste. 101
El Cajon, CA 92020
Website:
CARVER LABS
John Hunter Stevens, Esq.
Personal Injury Attorney
1535 Lelia Dr
Jackson, MS 39216
Website:
Stevens Law