About
About ARA
Forensic engineering, accident reconstruction, and fire investigation. Founded 1979 by an NC State engineering professor. Headquartered in Raleigh, NC.
Where we work
Based in North Carolina. Called out well beyond it.
Investigators work from four cities across the state, and casework has taken ARA into nearly every one in the country. This is the map off the office wall, rebuilt so it stays current.
Accident Reconstruction Analysis, PLLC (ARA) is a forensic engineering and consulting firm equipped with a comprehensive testing facility and laboratory, serving insurance carriers, legal counsel, private industry, and government agencies.
Founded in 1979 at NC State
ARA was founded in 1979 by Dr. Charles R. Manning, Jr., then a full professor of Materials Science and Engineering at NC State, formerly head of the Materials Engineering Group at NASA Langley, and his son, Charles R. Manning III, M.S., P.E., an NC State-trained metallurgical engineer. The firm was initially registered at the NC Secretary of State under the founder’s own name before becoming Accident Reconstruction Analysis, Inc.
Dr. Manning Jr. remained on the NC State faculty until 1981, when he left the university to run the firm full-time. He is a member of the NC State Materials Science & Engineering Alumni Hall of Fame and received the NC State College of Engineering’s Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 2006. He also endowed the Charles R. Manning, Jr. Enhancement Endowment Fund at NC State MSE, which continues to support engineering students today.
Three generations, one university
The NC State connection has endured across three generations of the Manning family. A third generation, Dr. Joe Manning, PhD, P.E., practices as a mechanical engineer at ARA while teaching in NC State’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His BS, MS, and PhD are all from NC State, continuing the lineage that started with his grandfather’s 1967 arrival on the NC State engineering faculty.
Engineering services
ARA offers a diversified list of services to meet the investigational needs of each client. Our engineers perform analysis, research, design, and testing across the fields of mechanical, materials, automotive, electrical, aerospace, and civil engineering. Cases range from large-scale investigations to small claims involving property damage and personal injury. ARA has both the resources and the laboratory facilities to test products and materials, determine whether manufacturing and design standards have been met, and pinpoint possible failure causations. All investigations are thoroughly documented, and reports are issued on request. ARA provides litigation support and expert testimony when requested.
Laboratory services
ARA maintains laboratory support for in-house casework as well as for rent by outside firms for testing, validation, and examination. Although ARA is a small firm by headcount, it operates advanced equipment typically seen in much larger organizations, while still keeping a personal touch on every project.
While our facilities are located in Raleigh, North Carolina, near Research Triangle Park and RDU Airport, our engineers routinely travel across the United States and beyond to perform field investigations.