Meet The Team We have many years of experience in the forensic engineering field.more … Fire and Explosions We pride ourselves knowing electrical systems and how they relate to fire and explosions.more … Electrical Equipment Waiting for information to go here. more …

Personal Injury

Bob Svare's first investigation in 1977 was about a fourteen year old boy, while trying to surprise his father on his birthday, fatally contacted a 19,000 volt power line. This incident introduced Mr. Svare into the world of collecting, organizing, analyzing data and presenting it in a court of law. Since then, he and his engineers have been contacted in hundreds of electrical injury cases, both for the plaintiff and the defense. All of these cases have been evaluated by SPE for their merit in light of the data collected.

These cases have involved; electrical shock, electrocution, arc-flash explosion burns resulting in severe injury and death, electrical equipment malfunction resulting in personal injury and death, personal error, and fraudulent claims.  The voltages involved have ranged from 120 volts to 69,000 volts.  The parties involved are of all ages and include; electricians, farmers, machine operators, painters, laborers, roofers, tree trimmers, crane operators, students, men, women and children.  We have also testified for the prosecution in cases involving the use of electricity as a cover up in arson and homicide.  We take our forensic investigative role very seriously, whether it involves property damage, injury or loss of life.

“Toddler Dies in Hastings Fire”

“Space heater igniting blanket is thought to be cause of blaze”

“Victim, 2 apparently kicked her afghan unto space heater”

“RITT SENTENCED TO LIFE” // “HASTINGS WOMAN GUILTY OF STARTING FIRE THAT KILLED 2-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER”

- MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE  - Don Ahern, Staff Writer

Our studies and experience in human factors engineering have been valuable in our assessment of the role that the person – machine interface has played in these incidents.  This, combined with our experiences as electricians has helped us to understand how an incident could occur and the roles of the victims and the electrical systems.   We are also proficient with a wide range of ANSI, IEEE, NEMA, NFPA, OSHA and UL, national standards relating to safety, such as; The National Electrical Safety Code, Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces, Electrical Standards for Industrial Machinery and Specifications for Accident Prevention Signs.