Rick August, PhD
Expert Witness | Crash Analysis
“Dr. Rick August’s services were invaluable in assessing a distracted driving case. His report was thorough and detailed. Most importantly, he was responsive, curious, and timely. Great communication as well.”
Ball, Kirk, & Holm, P.C., Iowa City, IA, United States
Rick August is an Expert Witness with extensive experience in:
- defensive driving,
- traffic safety,
- road user behavior,
- driver education,
- commercial vehicles (trucks & buses),
- and air brakes.
His expertise includes detailed accident investigations, where he analyzes the road users involved, their actions, the site conditions, available evidence, and peer-reviewed research.
He has worked on cases involving a range of vehicles, including semi-trucks, transit and school buses, vocational vehicles (e.g., dump, garbage, and concrete trucks), passenger cars, motorcycles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
With a PhD in legal history from the University of Melbourne, Dr. August’s research focused on policing and law as these relate to traffic safety.
He combines this academic foundation with hands-on driving experience, having driven semi-trucks and buses internationally.
Dr. August has been an instructor since 1997, teaching air brakes and defensive driving in Canada, Australia, and the U.S.
He has authored two e-books and creates educational videos to promote safer driving practices.
His deep knowledge and practical experience make him a respected authority in the field of traffic safety and crash analysis.
Expert Witness Services
Air Brakes
We possess extensive expertise in investigating crashes that involve vehicles fitted with air brakes. There are many fail safes on air brake equipped vehicles; however, brake fade and poor maintenance may lead to the failure of these systems.
Commercial Vehicles
Long-haul truck driving between Ontario, Canada, and the lower-48 in the United States brings a unique viewpoint to crash analysis. Compliance, load security, and defensive driving are all considerations in these crashes.
Passenger Vehicles
Collisions often result owing to drivers’ false conviction in the “I have the right-of-way myth.” The number one crash in North America is rear-end crashes, which supports the notion that almost all drivers are reactionary and following too close.
Recreational Vehicles
Dr. August has extensive experience with both trailering and RV units fitted with air brakes. He has taught new RV owners about air brakes. Also, he has taught safety around pulling a trailer and the importance of conducting vehicle pre-trip inspections.
Motorcycles
There are no “fender-benders” on a motorcycle. The size and acceleration of motorcycles leads other road users to misinterpret riders’ intentions. Often, riders are unaware of other vehicle’s blind areas. Get the insight you need into these collisions.
Other Vulnerable Road Users
More than 40% of crashes happen at intersections, often involving vulnerable road users (cyclists and pedestrians). Urban areas pose unique challenges. Defensive driving programs provide road users with strategies to deal with hazards.
About Rick August, PhD
In 1997, after more than a decade of driving semi-trucks between Canada and the United States’ lower-48, Rick August became a licensed CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) driving instructor. His CDL experience in combination with his academic background and education bring the strongest possible authority to the analysis of your legal case.