Mark A. Gomez, Ph.D is an expert who has been used nationwide in the field of injury biomechanics. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedics at University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. He has been involved in the field of biomechanics since 1977 and has over sixteen years of litigation and testimony experience.

Dr. Gomez teaches biomechanics and is a published research scientist in orthopedics. He is the author of Biomechanics of Soft-Tissue Injury, published in 2001 by Lawyers and Judges. He has also co-authored chapters in numerous other textbooks, served as a reviewer for five journals, authored or co-authored some 25 original research articles and jointly published 60 abstracts. He participates in numerous conferences and maintains memberships in the following organizations and societies:

• American Society of Biomechanics
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• The Orthopaedic Research Society
• SAE International
• Forensic Expert Witness Association

Injury Biomechanics takes the facts of the accident and correlates them with the facts of the injury.

Injury Biomechanics is the application of engineering principles to the understanding of how the body is injured. As the term suggests Injury Biomechanics involves both biological and mechanical engineering sciences. By applying both mechanical engineering and medical science, Injury Biomechanics can tell exactly how an injury occurs. Injury Biomechanics is also useful in determining ways to prevent injury from occuring.

In determining how an injury transpires, the actual injury or injury pattern is established. Strains, sprains, contusions, lacerations, ruptures, and fractures are some of the typical forms of trauma to biological tissues. Photos of injuries or autopsy proceedings, X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and other images can also provide necessary information.

To further understand the nature of an injury, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the accident and the sequence of injury-producing events. Data are obtained from accident reports, witness statements, medical histories and depositions.

Typical among the factors examined in a motor vehicle accident are the vehicles themselves, the use of restraint systems and the scene of the accident. In slip-and-falls, the scene of the accident is closely examined, along with such factors as shoes, location of blood stains, etc. Using this information, the cause of an injury can often be determined.

Injury biomechanics combines knowledge of basic anatomy, the condition of the involved tissue before and after the accident, information regarding the amount of force necessary to cause injury and an understanding of how these same forces have to be applied. Taking all this into consideration together explains how an injury occurs.