Motor Vehicle Accidents

The role of a meteorologist is often underutilized when it comes to Motor Vehicle Accident claims or lawsuits. Whether it’s an accident in heavy rain, snow, fog, smoke, sun glare, or hydroplaning, timing is everything and it’s very important to know exactly what the weather conditions were, when they started, when they stopped, and if they played a role in an MVA.

Determining If Sun Glare, Fog, Precipitation or High Winds Were Present When an Accident Occurred

By using the latest technology, numerous weather records and other information like sun angle and azimuth data, our meteorologists can determine what weather conditions, visibility or lighting conditions were occurring at the scene of the accident when it occurred.  Timing is everything.  By analyzing Doppler radar imagery zoomed in over the incident location, surface observations and other reports, we will determine if it was windy when the accident occurred, if precipitation was falling, how heavy it was, or if snow or ice was present when the accident occurred.  In some of our cases, the weather conditions that existed when the accident occurred were very different than what law enforcement listed in their report when they arrived.  A matter of a few minutes can make a big difference.  Minute-by-minute astronomical data and sky conditions allow us to determine how high the sun was above the horizon and where it was located in the sky when an accident occurred.  This can be instrumental to a case.  Other cases involve determining if fog was present, how low the visibility was, or if smoke or dust was reducing visibility.

Our findings and reports are often used to help investigators and accident reconstruction experts make calculations, determinations, and conclusions.  We have worked on many significant accident cases, including multiple fatality crashes around the U.S.

Customer Testimonials

Howard Altschule made a great expert witness in a complex motor vehicle vs. tractor trailer case where the weather played a critical role in understanding the liability aspect of the case. Howard was easy to work with and quite knowledgeable in the area of forensic meteorology. He also adapted well to some unpredictable rulings received from the Court and developed a good rapport with the jury. I would not hesitate to use Howard again in any future trials!

Edward J. Smith III

Defense Trial Attorney

Thanks so much Howard. I will recommend you from now on all weather related cases.

H.Q. Nguyen

Trial Attorney

I have found the services of Mr. Altschule and Forensic Weather Consultants to be prompt and thorough. His use of computerized weather data is particularly effective in conveying the disparity of weather conditions frequently encountered in the varied terrain of western Pennsylvania. I would not hesitate to recommend his services, and plan to do so as the need arises in the future.

Stephen Dugas

Defense Attorney

Let’s discuss your case today

Contact us to learn how Forensic Weather Consultants can provide you with accurate and reliable weather information to help you make informed claims coverage or case decisions.