David E. Bridges

David E. Bridges is a technically trained attorney in our Catastrophic Loss Practice Group, operating out of the Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas Metroplex. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, including fires, explosions, structural failures, fire protection system failures, product failures, and other catastrophic losses and construction-related incidents across the United States. His assignments include forensic investigations of first-property and other catastrophic losses, including fires and explosions involving industrial, commercial, and residential facilities, agricultural and commercial equipment, passenger and commercial motor vehicles, including tractors, trailers, and semi-trucks, motor coaches, and passenger buses, and marine vessels. David brings science and law together to investigate those incidents and provide representation from the outset of the incident through trial.

David also represents and consults with private and public sector fire and explosion origin and cause investigators, forensic engineers, and other specialists around the country who are faced with Daubert- or Frye-related challenges to their qualifications, methodology, and/or opinions. He is an International Association of Arson Investigators Certified Fire Investigator (IAAI-CFI ) and IAAI Certified Instructor (IAAI-CI ).

Prior to joining Meagher + Geer as an associate, David was a technical specialist, fire scientist, and certified fire investigator with our Catastrophic Loss Practice Group. David received his J.D. degree from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Law, operating on the southeastern coastal states on behalf of various Meagher + Geer clients. In his undergraduate studies, David focused on science, with emphasis on fire protection engineering. He has worked on numerous property loss assignments across the United States, in accordance with his status as an IAAI-CFI .

David also had extensive experience as a special agent, certified fire investigator, and accelerant detection canine (K-9) handler with the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ) / State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI). There, he worked alongside his partner, NCSBI Accelerant Detection K-9 “Phoenix”. Further, in addition to the investigation of structure fire/explosions, David has also participated in wildfire “origin and cause” workshops provided by the United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) / Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and North Carolina Division of Forest Resources (NCDFR).

David has conducted examinations of over 1,000 fires as an investigator. He has been an instructor for more than 36 live training fires. In addition, he has served as an investigator in eight (8) bombing/explosion incidents.

David served on the IAAI-Board of Directors and as Co-Chair of the IAAI’s Training & Education (T&E) Committee from 2017-2023. He served as the IAAI-Second (2nd) Vice President from 2023-2024 and IAAI-First (1st) Vice President from 2024-2025. David currently serves as IAAI-President and IAAI-T&E Committee Chair. He also serves as an adjunct instructor for the United States Department of Justice’s (USDOJ) / Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ (ATF) and National Fire Academy’s (NFA) fire and explosion training programs. The courses focus on fire and explosion origin and cause investigation, interview and interrogation, and expert witness-courtroom testimony techniques.

Outside the office, David enjoys spending time with his wife, Amy, and daughters, Rowyn and Rylee, and listening to bluegrass music.

Accolades

•Selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the area of Product Liability Litigation-Defendants, 2026
•Life Membership Award, North Carolina Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (NC-IAAI), October 2015

Professional Certifications

•Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Peace Officer License, May 2014
•International Association of Arson Investigators Certified Instructor (IAAI-CI), August 2013
•U.S. Department of Homeland Security Wildland Fire Investigation Case Development, January 2013
•International Association of Arson Investigators Certified Fire Investigator (IAAI-CFI), October 2010, October 2015
•U.S. Department of Homeland Security Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination, November 2010
•Fire Investigation Training Services, Inc. Accelerant Detection K-9 Training, December 2008
•North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission Criminal Justice Instructor, April 2009
•U.S. Department of Homeland Security Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings, March 2008
•Basic Clandestine Laboratory Safety, 29 CFR 1910.120 and 8 CCR 5192, November 2007
•Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Post-Blast Investigation, March 2007
•Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Incident Management System Training, August 2006
•North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission Law Enforcement Certification, October 2006
•National Fire Academy (NFA) Fire/Arson Investigation, May 2005
•North Carolina State Fire & Rescue Commission Certified Fire Investigator (CFI), April 2008
•Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute, Firefighter I & II, 2002
•Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute, Fire Officer I, II, 2002
•Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute, Fire Inspector I, II & III, 2002

Special Training

Instructor:
•Crime scene investigation
•Evidence recognition, preservation and collection
•Fire behavior and combustion
•Fire analysis and investigation
Special Research Projects
•“A Fire Dynamics Analysis of Compartment Fire Scenarios Involving Electrical Concepts”, In Conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Special Agent Academy, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Brunswick, Georgia, May, 2015
•“Fire Pattern Persistence in the Presence of Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV)”, In Conjunction with the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute’s Study of the Effectiveness of Fire Service PPV, Northbrook, Illinois, January 2015

News

•Aug 21, 2025
Meagher + Geer congratulates its 23 attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers in 2026
•Dec 23, 2021
Meagher + Geer announces opening of Dallas office
•Nov 15, 2021
Meagher + Geer Elects three attorneys to the partnership

Events

•Apr 23, 2019
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF) Arson for Prosecutors Course The Scientific Method, NFPA 1033, & NFPA 921, presented by Meagher & Geer attorney David E. Bridges, Esq., IAAI-CFI, IAAI-CI
•May 21, 2018
The Four Corners of Origin Determination: Witness Statements, Fire Patterns, Arc Mapping, & Fire Dynamics, 69th International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), International Training Conference
•May
15 - 17,
2018

Adjunct Instructor, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) Arson for Prosecutors Course, Buncombe County Training Center

Articles

•Dec 29, 2016
Kitchen Fire Claims: The Cost of Reliability

David Bridges

•Dec 1, 2016
Kitchen Fire Claims: The Cost of Reliability
•Nov 1, 2016
Critical Emerging Fire Claim Management Issues