Beyond hurricanes, I support storm-damage attorneys and litigation teams handling tornado-, wind-, hail-, and flood-related property-damage claims. Each case draws on the same approach I use across all of my forensic weather work: verified data, clear findings, and expert testimony when needed.
Tornado & Wind Damage Litigation
Wind damage can occur from severe thunderstorms – producing downbursts and straight line winds – and tornadoes. Both can produce highly localized and variable damage patterns that can be challenging for an expert to make sense of. Since it is very rare to have direct observations of the event, I derive wind speed estimates from local weather service damage reports, statistical analysis, and sometimes theoretical models constrained by available nearby observations.
Hail Damage Claims & Expert Testimony
Hail is another challenging phenomena that requires expert knowledge and interpretation. Frequently, there will be a question about whether hail occurred at a location and, if so, how big the hail stones were. Although radar data can provide worthwhile information about the existence and size of hail inside the clouds, the data don’t necessarily translate to the ground. Hail stones can melt, break apart, or even grow further as they fall. Other ground-based evidence can be critical in establishing hail occurrence and size.
Flood & Rain-Related Property Damage Cases
For flood and rain-related property disputes, I provide a clear reconstruction of rainfall totals and timing, in a format suited for insurance review or litigation. Rainfall data are notoriously uncertain during times of strong winds like hurricanes and thunderstorms. Strong winds can blow rain sideways such that the drops escape detection. Radar data can provide a regional view of rain rate, but other caveats like beam attenuation must be considered.
Another frequent point of contention is hurricane storm surge vs. wind damage. My extensive experience in hurricane landfall analyses provides clients with informed opinions on whether damage was incurred due to wind or water.
FAQ
Typically a forensic weather analysis confirming the conditions, such as wind speed, hail, or rainfall, at the property and time in question.
Yes. Using radar data – and sometimes local reports and observations – I can confirm within a reasonable degree of certainty whether hail occurred at a given location. The hail stone size and timing of its occurrence can also be determined.
Yes, in addition to tornado, wind, and hail damage cases.