Cole Bentley

Cole Bentley is an Engineering Associate in MEA Forensic’s Video Analysis group in the Los Angeles office. He assists with the investigation of personal injury and property loss events, typically car crashes, that have been captured on video. Cole also analyzes physical evidence like tire marks and vehicle crush to reconstruct collisions. His work includes scene and vehicle examinations, laser scanning, event data recorder (EDR) downloads, video analysis, and computer simulations.

Cole earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His Master’s thesis project focused on how vehicle drivers react to haptic systems. As a teaching assistant, Cole discovered a passion for helping others understand science. “I enjoy explaining something technical, and seeing that ‘aha!’ moment of understanding,” he says.

The importance of clearly communicating technical findings resonates with Cole. So does the significance of his work. He approaches each investigation from multiple angles, carefully considering all available evidence before reaching a conclusion. “The work we do has real-world implications, so it’s important to verify our findings, understand the limitations of the data, and make sure everything fits together before reaching a conclusion,” he explains.