Human Factors Expert Witness

Human factors expert witnesses evaluate the interaction between humans and systems, products, and environments to determine whether design, warnings, instructions, and operational procedures accounted for predictable human behavior and cognitive limitations. They apply perception-reaction time data, attentional capacity research, and anthropometric standards to assess whether users were given adequate information and physical capability to avoid injury.

Cases commonly requiring human factors expertise include inadequate product warnings and labeling, user interface design contributing to medical device or equipment errors, workplace safety and procedural failures, pedestrian and driver visibility disputes, and premises liability involving signage, lighting, and wayfinding adequacy. These matters bridge engineering and psychology, requiring an expert who can explain why a reasonable person behaved as they did given the design constraints and information available.

Subspecialty areas including product warnings and instructions, medical device human factors, transportation human factors, workplace ergonomics and procedure design, and digital interface and software usability each involve different design standards and research methodologies. An expert with both academic research credentials and applied consulting experience provides the dual perspective that courts value when evaluating whether a design was reasonably safe for its intended users.