Large and complex losses don’t fit neatly into one box. A commercial building fire may involve structural compromise, equipment damage, code compliance questions, business interruption, and an origin and cause determination — all at once. A catastrophic weather event may damage the roof, the building envelope, the mechanical systems, and the foundation. A major industrial incident may require materials analysis, geotechnical review, and heavy equipment evaluations simultaneously.
These are the assignments where team composition — technical depth and investigative experience — matter most.
From the New London School Explosion in 1937 to the Hyatt Regency walkway collapse in 1981, the Union Carbide Seadrift plant explosion in 1991, the Hoover Dam Bypass construction cableway collapse in 2006, and the Surfside, FL Champlain Towers South collapse in 2021. Haag has been called to some of the most consequential complex losses of each generation. Haag’s assignments span borders as well as disciplines, extending internationally to engagements such as the Jamalco Alumina Refinery fire in Clarendon, Jamaica in 2021.
We serve the insurance industry, legal community, and corporate sector on property claims, casualty claims, legal assignments, and CAT events.
School Explosion | New London, TX
Hyatt Walkway Collapse | Kansas City, Missouri
Loma Prieta Earthquake, Central Coast, California
Union Carbide Plant Explosion | Seadrift, Texas
Hurricane Andrew | South Florida & Southern Louisiana
Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge
Imperial Sugar Explosion | Port Wentworth, GA
Parking Garage Collapse | Miami-Dade, FL
Coshocton Granary Explosion | Ohio
Champlain Towers South Collapse | Surfside, FL
Jamalco Alumina Refinery Fire | Clarendon, Jamaica
When the facts are unclear, Haag delivers a coordinated, multi-disciplinary response — from first response through final determination.
Tell us about your assignment and we’ll identify the right team.
Size is one factor. Complexity is another. A loss can qualify as large or complex based on its magnitude, the number of contributing disciplines required, the ambiguity around cause or scope, or the litigation risk it carries.
Large and complex losses typically involve one or more of the following:
Commercial, industrial, or multi-structure property damage with significant repair and/or replacement cost or business interruption implications
Overlapping or disputed contributing causes that require investigation across disciplines
Widespread damage from a named storm, earthquake, wildfire, or other CAT event requiring coordinated deployment
Assignments where findings will be tested in arbitration, appraisal, or court
Specialized equipment, or building types that require niche expertise, such as industrial facilities or marine infrastructure
Incidents requiring certified investigators, established evidence protocols, and scientific analysis of origin and cause
Assignments involving insurers, subrogation, government or regulatory agencies, and/or legal teams each with independent investigative interests, where coordinated scene access and evidence management are extremely critical
Structural failure, collapse, foundation issues, civil engineering, geotechnical, wind engineering, earthquake response
Fire and explosion investigation, HAZMAT analysis, burn testing, evidence collection and storage
Weather verification and analysis, historical weather review
Commercial and industrial roofing, exterior cladding, moisture intrusion, construction defects, code compliance
Architectural standard of care, premises liability, safety, ADA compliance
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, industrial equipment, naval architecture, vehicle accident reconstruction, energy systems
Damage scoping, repair or remediation cost estimates, clerk of works, construction management, insurance appraisals, Remediation Contractor Standard of Care, General Contractor Standard of Care
Laboratory analysis, hail damage testing, wind simulation, materials science, structural testing
Geospatial documentation, drone/UAV assessment, 3D site documentation, mass data acquisition
Additional access to world-class niche design expertise through Salas O’Brien’s 900+ subject matter experts.
Some of the most complex claims involve facilities that require more than forensic investigation. They require an intimate understanding of how the facility was engineered to operate in the first place. A fire at a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant, a structural failure at a data center, an explosion at a chemical processing facility, or a systems failure at an aerospace launch pad each present investigative challenges that go beyond standard building science.
As part of Salas O’Brien, Haag has access to a network of 900+ registered and/or licensed technical professionals, including active design engineers and specialists who build these exact facility types. These experts understand the performance of these critical environments and their facility requirements from the ground up. When they contribute to a Haag investigation, they fill a gap that most forensic firms simply cannot access.
As part of Salas O’Brien, we have coordinated resources within a single organization that are available when the investigation calls for it.
Commercial and industrial fires, explosion events, and HAZMAT incidents require a specialized investigative response. Haag’s fire investigation team has experts with niche complex fire and explosion loss experience, conducting origin & cause determinations, establishing evidence protocols, and delivering findings that are defensible in litigation. Haag continues to expand its licensed fire investigation coverage across the U.S. Contact us to discuss your assignment location.
When a structure fails, whether from load, design deficiency, material failure, or seismic activity, establishing cause and scope demands rigorous structural analysis. Haag engineers evaluate buildings, bridges, foundations, and infrastructure across all construction types.
On major losses, delayed response has consequences. Evidence can degrade, business interruption extends, and pressure of the situation intensifies. Haag maintains capacity for rapid deployment across the United States.
Flooding from storm surge, inland flooding, or infrastructure failure can affect structural systems, building envelopes, MEP systems, and contents. Haag’s hydrology, geotechnical, and building envelope specialists evaluate extent of damage and separate storm-related loss from pre-existing conditions.
Crane failures, aerial lift incidents, and heavy mobile equipment losses require both engineering analysis and operational context. Haag engineers evaluate cause, pre-loss condition, repair options, and replacement cost.
Industrial facilities, commercial buildings, and specialty equipment systems require disciplinary depth to evaluate accurately. Haag’s MEP engineers and industrial specialists analyze mechanical failures, electrical events, equipment loss, and product liability claims.
When failure is rooted in the material itself, or in the construction process, Haag’s research and testing capabilities provide scientific answers. Our IAS-accredited laboratory conducts materials testing, failure analysis, and forensic examination that supports both claim resolution and litigation.
Port facilities, marine structures, pipelines, roadways, and utility infrastructure present unique investigative challenges. Haag’s civil, geotechnical, and naval architecture specialists address losses across the full range of infrastructure asset types.
We support property and casualty claims teams managing large, high-exposure losses. Our work product is written to withstand scrutiny in coverage disputes, appraisals, and litigation. We move quickly, communicate clearly, and deliver findings that help carriers make decisions that are defensible in court.
Haag experts serve as retained consultants and expert witnesses in complex litigation, arbitration, and appraisal proceedings. Our consultants have testified in state and federal courts, before arbitration panels, and in regulatory proceedings. They understand the demands of the legal environment and produce reports and testimony accordingly.
Large commercial and industrial operations face losses that fall outside the scope of standard property claims response. Haag provides independent, third-party forensic analysis to help corporate clients understand what happened, what it will cost to remediate, and whether a third party bears responsibility.
Complex and large loss claims are not one-size-fits-all, and neither is the team we assemble to investigate them. Haag’s consultants bring deep technical credentials across fire, structural, meteorological, mechanical, and construction disciplines, and our team has courtroom and deposition experience to back it up.
Use our expert directory to find a consultant by discipline or location. Have a specific assignment in mind? Contact us directly and we’ll identify the right lead expert for your case.
Modern damage and failure challenges do not always fit neatly within a single discipline. Structural behavior, building envelope performance, mechanical systems, storm impacts, construction practices, fire dynamics, and materials science often intersect. The Haag team brings together specialized experts from the start, replacing isolated opinions with a coordinated evaluation of the full scope of damage, regardless of the depth it leads to. This means a clearer, more complete technical evaluation and analysis that helps clients understand not just what happened, but why, as well as what to do next.
The storm severely damaged a 300,000-square-foot tilt-up concrete structure, causing loss of approximately 30% of the roof deck and partial collapse of a supporting steel frame. Haag’s forensic assessment and accelerated repair plan shortened recovery by several months, allowing re-occupancy within six months of the tornado.
A large grain dust explosion occurred at a grain company facility. The explosion severely damaged 3 connected silos and injured 6 workers, as employees were loading rail cars when the explosion happened, and sections of the bins toppled onto the rail. Haag responded to determine the origin and cause of the explosion, which included coordinating with OSHA representatives and salvage efforts.
