Ryan J. Kmetz, P.E., ACTAR
Senior Consultant
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Expert QuestionS & AnswerS
How has technology changed the way you approach investigations over the course of your career?
It’s a balance of making sure I can leverage the technology to the best of its ability while not overly relying on it. Often times the technology is only as smart as its operator and failing to validate outputs can generate more questions than answers.
In a crash investigation, what’s one piece of evidence that people almost always overlook but that can tell you exactly what happened?
There’s almost never going to be a silver bullet. That said, vehicle sightings reports have come in extremely handy proving pre-existing damage in insurance cases. Canvasing a crash scene and asking for surveillance video has also served me well. Often times cases can be made simpler than they might otherwise be just by looking for information outside of the vehicle damage.
What’s one thing about accident reconstruction that most people get completely wrong?
Accident reconstruction is as much an art as it is a science. Being able to take a photo which perfectly captures important details can be invaluable in a report or presentation. Personal skills while interviewing an involved party and can make the difference between getting an important piece of information or not. Conveying a technically intense message in a way that’s simplified and approachable to anyone is key in this work.
Background
Mr. Ryan Kmetz is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and a registered professional engineer in multiple states. Ryan has over 15 years of engineering experience and has been working on cars for over 20 years, doing everything from oil changes to engine replacement.
Mr. Kmetz is experienced in passenger and commercial vehicle inspections; damage analysis; vehicle dynamics; tire investigation; and the collection and analysis of data from vehicles. Mr. Kmetz’s expertise also includes the design, construction, and evaluation of residential, commercial, and industrial HVAC, plumbing, and piping systems and components. He has performed investigations and testing related to residential and commercial equipment such as air handlers and water heaters.
Mr. Kmetz is a certified Bosch Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) Tool Technician and has conducted forensic inspections of passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles since joining Rimkus.
Mr. Kmetz’s professional practice focuses on collision investigation for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, event data recorder (EDR) downloads and interpretation, seatbelt and brake system analysis, 3D scanning, failure analysis, and mechanical engineering.
Education and Certifications
- Mechanical Engineering, B.S.: University of Central Florida (2009)
- Licensed Professional Engineer: Florida and North Carolina
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP, BD+C)