Motorcycle Expert Witness
Bret Tkacs has served as a retained expert witness in motorcycle cases since 2006. His opinions rest on physics, training standards and instruction since 1996, explained in terms a judge or jury can follow.
CV available on request.
Why Attorneys Retain Bret
- An Instructor FirstHis work has centered on how riders learn, retain and lose the skills that cause or prevent a collision. He explains technical material in plain language without losing the analysis.
- Casework Beyond RidingTwo decades of reviewing accident reconstruction data, coroner's reports and evidence from major litigation.
- Trusted Outside the CourtroomDesigned the US Army Special Forces Motorcycle Mentor Training program, authored Washington State DOL-authorized rider curricula and has consulted with New Zealand's Accident Compensation Corporation.
- Both Sides of the DocketRetained by plaintiffs and by defense. He reviews the evidence before any agreement is signed and says so early if it does not support the case.
Areas of Expertise
Reconstruction establishes what happened mechanically. Bret's analysis addresses what was reasonable, common and safe for a rider to do, given the training, conditions and equipment involved. Whether a rider met a legal standard is for the court to decide.
- Interpreting Reconstruction FindingsWhat reconstruction data, coroner's reports and physical evidence mean for a real rider's behavior. Bret does not perform the reconstruction itself.
- Rider Behavior and Cognitive BiasTrained and untrained patterns, assumptions and biases, such as target fixation or overconfidence, that shape a rider's split-second decisions.
- Motorcycle DynamicsTraction, weight distribution, braking and momentum as they apply to real riding conditions.
- Training and Instructional StandardsWhat standard rider instruction does and does not cover, from the author of Washington State rider curricula.
- Protective Equipment and Injury CausationHow gear choice, or its absence, relates to the injuries sustained.
- Instructor and Course Design StandardsWhether a training program or instructor met the standard of care expected in the industry.
Case History
Since 2006, Bret has been retained in 15 motorcycle-related matters in civil litigation and criminal proceedings.
| Year | Retained By | Matter | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Defense | Private Party v. Florida Trackdays et al. | Track day collision; injuries |
| 2020 | Defense | Private Party v. 2FAST Track Days | Track day crash; injuries |
| 2016 | Plaintiff | Private Party v. Private Party | Vehicle and motorcycle collision; injuries |
| 2013 | Defense | Private Party v. Snohomish County | Cornering crash on a public road; injuries |
| 2011 | Defense | Private Party v. State Farm | Strategic case guidance to counsel |
| 2010 | Defense | State of Washington v. Private Party | Criminal prosecution following a fatal collision |
| 2010 | Plaintiff | Private Party v. Geico | Risk assessment supporting an insurance claim |
| 2010 | Defense | State of Washington v. Private Party, Marion County | Right-of-way collision; strategic case guidance |
| 2010 | Defense | Private Party v. City of Ruston | Cornering crash on a public road; fatality |
| 2010 | Defense | Private Party v. State of Washington | Cornering crash on a state highway; injuries |
| 2009 | Defense | Private Party v. City of Lynnwood | Cornering crash on a public road; injuries |
| 2007 | Defense | Private Party v. State of Washington | Off-road crash on state-owned land; paralysis |
| 2006 | Defense | Private Party v. City of Lynden | Intersection collision; injuries |
| 2006 | Defense | Private Party v. City of Tacoma | Roadway hazard; fatality |
| 2006 | Defense | Private Party v. City of Tacoma | Roadway hazard; injuries |
Names of individual parties are withheld to protect the privacy of those involved, including surviving family members in fatality cases.
Discuss a Case
Attorneys and insurance professionals can ask whether a case fits Bret's areas of expertise. An initial review does not commit either party to an engagement.