Cell: (312) 320-3248
jay@focusforensics.com
51 West Center Street, Suite #317
Orem, UT 84057
—Managing Engineer
Dr. Przybyla (“prizz-bee-lah”) is a licensed professional engineer and managing engineer at Focus Forensics with experience, education, and training in the fields of civil engineering, forensic engineering, and transportation safety. He holds a Master’s and Ph.D. in transportation engineering from the University of Utah and a Bachelor’s in civil engineering from Brigham Young University. Specific areas of expertise include vehicle collision reconstruction, commercial vehicle crash investigation and analysis, roadway design and traffic controls, highway-rail grade crossings, intermodal facilities, train collision and automotive safety and design issues.
Dr. Przybyla leads the ongoing engineering research program at Focus Forensics, and manages all projects in the Mountain West and West Regions for the consulting engineering firm, while also providing consulting services to clients nationwide. He has completed the engineering investigation and evaluation of vehicle, driver, and roadway issues in hundreds of cases across the United States.
Dr. Przybyla is a published author in safety engineering literature with a focus on identifying, quantifying, and developing solutions for major transportation related risks. He served as adjunct faculty at Utah Valley University teaching engineering and mathematics courses. He also guest lectured at Brigham Young University and the University of Utah on accident reconstruction and transportation safety.
Prior to his years of work in transportation engineering, Dr. Przybyla served as a state trooper for the Utah Highway Patrol focusing on DUI detection, interdiction, and accident investigations. He completed numerous accident investigations and accident reconstructions as a member of Utah’s Multi-Discipline Accident Investigation Team. Dr. Przybyla has extensive experience testifying in civil and criminal cases, including providing expert witness testimony at trial.
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah
B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Focus Forensics, LLC
Managing Engineer: 2014-Present
Armstrong Forensic Engineers, Inc.
Senior Consultant: 2010-2014
Collision Safety Engineering, LLC
Engineer: 2005-2010
University of Utah
Research Assistant: 2009-2013
Utah Valley University
Police Officer: 2006-2010 & 2013-2015
Adjunct Professor: 2009-2010 & 2013
Utah Department of Public Safety
State Trooper: 2001-2006
Utah State POST Academy
Instructor: 2002-2004
Roosevelt City Corporation
Police Officer: 2002-2004
Salt Lake County Public Works
Technician: 1999-2000
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Member
American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), Member
Transportation Research Board Standing Committee on Traffic Law Enforcement (ACS30), Corresponding Committee Member
Transportation Research Board Standing Committee on Transportation Safety Management (ACS10), Friend of the Committee
Transportation Research Board Standing Committee on Work Zone Traffic Control (ACP55), Friend of the Committee
Transportation Research Board Standing Committee on Human Factors of Vehicles (ACH30), Friend of the Committee
Accredited Accident Reconstructionist
Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction
(ACTAR), #3047
Certified Traffic Control Supervisor
American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA),
#360701
Work Zone Traffic Control Supervisor
Florida Department of Transportation
Motorcycle Operator’s License
Utah Driver’s License Division, DPS
American Traffic Safety Services Association
Axiom Forensic
Bendix
Certify Me
Collision Safety Institute / ARC
Pedestrian Crash Reconstruction Methodologies Crash Safety Solutions (Human Factors)
Energi
EKPass
EOS Systems Inc.
European Association for Accident Research and Analysis
FARO Technologies Inc.
Focus Forensics, LLC
InnovMETRIC Software Inc.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
McInnis Engineering Associates
National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE)
National Academy of Science and Norwood Police Department
North American Training Group
Northwestern University Center for Public Safety
OSHA Campus
Robert Bosch Corporation
Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE)
Transportation Research Board (TRB)
Utah County Sheriff’s Department
Utah Department of Public Safety UHP
Utah Department of Transportation
Utah State POST Academy
U.S. DOT – FHWA – National Highway Institute
U.S. DOT – Transportation Safety Institute
Vector Solutions
World Reconstruction Exposition (WREX)
“A Transportation Engineer’s Perspective on Accident Reconstruction,” Nevada State Bar Continuing Education, 2023
“A Transportation Engineer’s Perspective on Motorcycle Accident Reconstruction,” Laws Tiger Summit – Phoenix, AZ, 2023
“A Transportation Engineer’s Perspective on Motorcycle Accident Reconstruction”, TBI Med Legal, 2021
“Accident Reconstruction, Transportation Safety, & Criminal Defense” National College for DUI Defense, 2021
“Special Forensic Application of Civil Engineering”, Arizona State University, 2020
“Red Flag Indicators of Fraud”, Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee Conference (FIFEC), 2019
“Automotive Fraud Analysis: Going Beyond the Physical Evidence”, 27th Annual Congress of the European Association for Accident Research and Analysis, 2018
“Big Data Analysis – Combining GPS with Traffic Signal Data Logger Records”, 27th Annual Congress of the European Association for Accident Research and Analysis, 2018
“Accident Reconstruction: A Panel Discussion”, Energi Risk Management Summit, 2017
“Maintenance of Traffic and Roadway Design Analysis”, World Reconstruction Exposition, 2016
“How to Document and Preserve a Work Zone Related Crash” W.W. Clyde & Co. Annual Supervisors Training, 2015
“Accident Scene Preservation” W.W. Clyde & Co., Interchange, 2015
“Truth or Dare:Is the Insured Telling the Truth or are They Daring to Make a False Claim?” Utah Claims Adjusters Association, 2014
“10 Important Event Data Recorder Questions Answered” Trystan Smith & Associates – Corporate Law Department State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, 2014
“Truth or Dare: Is the Insured Telling the Truth or are They Daring to Make a False Claim?” Geico Auto Insurance Annual Fraud Awareness Day, 2014
“A Forensic Enjineer’s Perspective on Work Zone Risk” W.W. Clyde & Co. Interchange, 2014
“Automotive Accident Reconstruction: An Introduction” Young Lawyers Section of Idaho State Bar, 2013
“Light Bulb Filament Distortion Thresholds by Voltage and Delta-V” Society of Automotive Engineers 2013 World Congress & Exhibition, 2013
“Introduction to Forensic Nuclear Engineering” University of Utah, 2013
“3D Modeling with Laser Scanner Point Cloud Data” Armstrong Forensic Engineers, 2012
“Simplified, Data-Driven, Errorable Car-Following Model to Predict the Safety Effects of Distracted Driving” 15th International IEEE Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (IEEE ITSC), 2012
“Crash Event Modeling Approach for Dynamic Traffic Assignment” 4th Transportation Research Board Conference on Innovations in Travel Modeling (ITM), 2012
“Special Forensic Applications of Civil Engineering” University of Utah, 2011
“Handling Large Loss Claims with Limited Information” PLRB Large Loss Conference, 2011
“Spatial – Information Approach to Analyzing and Planning Distributed Transportation Security Systems,” Top 10 Finalist in National Security Innovation Competition, 2011
“PhotoModeler for Inverse Projects and Scaled Diagramming” Armstrong Forensic Engineers, 2011
“Safety and Accident Investigation” Michels Corporation, 2011
“Information – Theoretic Sensor Location Model for Detecting Origin-Destination Spatial Patterns of Special Nuclear Material Smuggling” 1st National Conference for Advancing Tools and Solutions for Nuclear Material Detection, 2010
“Transportation Safety Concerns in the Urban Transportation Planning Process” University of Utah, 2009
“Case Studies in Accident Reconstruction and Photogrammetry” Collision Safety Engineering, 2005
“Criminal Liability and Accident Reconstructions” Brigham Young University, 2005
“Accident Reconstruction and Perception Reaction Time” Utah Department of Public Safety, MAIT Team Quarterly Training, 2004
“Accident Investigation” Utah Police Officers Standards and Training Academy, Uintah Basin Satellite Academy, 2002-2003
“Accident Reconstruction” U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Law Enforcement Services, 2003
“Pitfalls in PhotoModeler Photogrammetry When Accident Scene Diagramming” Utah Department of Public Safety, Utah Highway Patrol Section 5, 2003
Rush, T., Przybyla, J., Melcher, D., “A New Source of Collision Evidence: Traffic Signal Data Loggers,” American Bar Association, Committee News Commercial Transportation Litigation, 2018
Melcher, D., Przybyla, J., Palframan, K., Rush, T., “Big Data Analysis – Combining GPS with Traffic Signal Data Logger Records,” Proceedings of the 27th Annual Congress of the European Association for Accident Research and Analysis (EVU), 2018
Przybyla, J., Melcher, D., “Automotive Fraud Analysis: Going Beyond the Physical Evidence,” Proceedings of the 27th Annual Congress of the European Association for Accident Research and Analysis (EVU), 2018
Przybyla, J., Rush, T., Palframan, K., Melcher, D., “Introduction to Traffic Signal Data Loggers and their Application to Accident Reconstruction,” SAE Technical Paper 2018-01-0527, 2018
Montalbano, P., Melcher, D., Keller, R., Rush, T., Przybyla, J., “Testing Methodology to Evaluate Reliability of a “Frozen” Speedometer Reading in Motorcycle/ Scooter Impacts with Pre- Impact Braking.” SAE Technical Paper 2016-01-1482, 2016
Melcher, D., Rush, T., Przybyla, J., Keller, R., Montalbano, P., “Photogrammetric Reconstruction Methodology and Engineering Validation for Video-Captured Pedestrian Collisions”, Proceedings of the 24th Annual Congress of the European Association for Accident Research and Analysis (EVU), 2015
Przybyla J., Jupe J., Rush T., Keller R., “Glass Debris Field Longevity for Rollover Accident Reconstruction.” SAE Technical Paper 2015–01–1427, 2015
Przybyla J., Taylor J., Jupe J., Zhou X., “Estimating Risk Effects of Driving Distraction: A Dynamic Errorable Car-Following Model.” Transportation Research Part C, 10.1016/j.trc.2014.07.013, 2014
Rush, T., Przybyla, J., Melcher, D., Sax, C., “Video Analysis and Analytical Modeling of Actual Vehicle/ Pedestrian Collisions.” SAE Technical Paper 2014-01-0483, 2014
Przybyla, J., “Enhancing Transportation Safety and Security: A Spatial Multilevel Approach” Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Utah, 2013
Przybyla J., Zhou X., “Learning Transportation Simulation and Modeling: A Case Study-Based Approach Using Open-Source Tools”, “Lesson 5: Navigating From Point A to Point B”, and “Lesson 8: Big Data Applications” Online Learning Document, www.learning- transportation.org, 2013
Przybyla J., Rush T., Melcher D., Robinson S., “Light Bulb Filament Distortion Thresholds by Voltage and Delta-V.” SAE Technical Paper 2013-01-0752, 2013
Przybyla J., Taylor J., Jupe J., Zhou X., “Simplified, Data-Driving, Errorable Car-Following Model to Predict the Safety Effects of Distracted Driving.” 15th International IEEE Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems Conference (IEEE ITSC), 2012
Przybyla J., Taylor J., Zhou X., Porter R.J., “Crash Event Modeling Approach for Dynamic Traffic Assignment.” 4th Transportation Research Board Conference on Innovations in Travel Modeling (ITM), 2012
Lang M., Przybyla J., Zhou X., “Loading Containers on Double-Stack Cars: Multi-Objective Optimization Models and Solution Algorithms for Improved Safety and Reduced Maintenance Cost.” E-Print Network Record 571, 2011
Przybyla J., Taylor J., Porter R.J., Xhou X., “Modeling Crashes for Evaluating Network-Level Impact of Safety Enhancement Strategies: A Fast Dynamic Traffic Assignment Approach.” UDOT Annual Conference, 2011
Melcher D., Keller R., Przybyla J., Rush T., “Applications of GPS Data in Collision Reconstruction.” Collision Magazine, 2011
Melcher D., Keller R., Przybyla J., Rush T., “Applications of GPS Data in Collision Reconstruction.” Proceedings of the 10th ITAI International Conference on Collision Investigation, Interpretation and Reconstruction, 2011
Zhou X., Przybyla J., “Crash Event Modeling Approach for Dynamic Traffic Assignment.” White Paper Submitted to FHWA Project DTFH61- 10-R-000013, 2011
Przybyla J., Porter R.J., Nevers B., Zhou, X., “Evaluating Roadway Safety Improvements in a Traffic Assignment Framework.” Transportation Research Board, 3rd International Conference Roadway Safety and Simulation, 2011
Przybyla J., Taylor J., Zhou X., “What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: The Application of Security Data Visualization Techniques for the Placement of Nuclear Material Smuggling Interdiction Sensors.” 2nd National Conference for Advancing Tools and Solutions for Nuclear Material Detection, 2011
Przybyla J., Taylor J., “Spatial-Information Approach to Analyzing and Planning Distributed Transportation Security Systems.” National Security Innovation Competition White Paper, 2011
Taylor J., Przybyla J., Zhou X., “Quantifying Information Gains of Networked Sensor System for Detecting Nuclear Material Smuggling Flow: An Ensemble Filtering Approach.” INFORMS Austin, 2010
Taylor J., Przybyla J., Zhou X., “Spatial Information Theoretical Approach to Locating Sensors in Transportation Security Applications.” INFORMS Austin, 2010
Przybyla J., Taylor J., Zhou X., “Locating Sensors for Detecting Source-to-Target Patterns of Special Nuclear Material Smuggling: A Spatial Information Theoretic Approach.” Sensors 2010, 10, 8070- 8091
Przybyla J., Zhou X., “Information – Theoretic Sensor Location Model for Detecting Origin-Destination Spatial Patterns of Special Nuclear Material Smuggling.” 1st National Conference for Advancing Tools and Solutions for Nuclear Material Detection, 2010
Przybyla J., Zhou X., “Cell Phone Use While Driving: A Literature Review and Recommendations.” White Paper, 2008
IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems
Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
Scientific Reports
Society of Automotive Engineers
Traffic Injury Prevention
Transportation Research Record
Transportation Research Board, Roadway Safety and Simulation
Transportation Research Board, Traffic Law Enforcement
Urban Rail Transit
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