Forensic Meteorology In General Terms

By Jocelyn Davidson


One of the ways that this educational tool is used in a car accident death investigation could include showing what the victim was probably doing prior to the end of their life. This could be deduced by seeing the tire tracks, looking at the length of track and the impact site. If it were raining at the time of the crash, it could be a freak accident responsible and not driver impairment or mechanical issues.

It is used in some cases where weather could have caused a legal issue. This can include a reenactment of an accident or to help see if something was done on purpose or not. The meaning of forensic meteorology is to study weather and use the outcomes to help decide if an event could have had an impact on a crime.

Whether it is an insurance problem, airplane crash, bomb or an accident due to slipping; there are many ways to use the information found through this tool being used. Some conditions that would be looked at could be drought, flood, ice and snow. A certified meteorologist can look to see what if any precipitation was present and how it may have an effect on a situation.

If the insurance on a house covers a flood but not any act of God issue and the home took on water, there could be a reason to use this information. If a tornado being an act of God was the cause of the roof leaking and allowing water in, the policy would not pay. But if it was due to a sewer drain being backed up and allowing water to enter the home, insurance would them cover the repairs.

Another case to consider would be if a customer slipped and fell down causing themselves harm on a wet floor. Even if there were signs up to caution against walking on the area, the responsibility for safety lies with the store and their employees. If there were melted snow that had been tracked indoors and was not cleaned up, the store would have to pay for medical treatment for that customer due to their negligence.

The means of determining what elements are at play during any time frame includes looking at historical data on the actual conditions surrounding that date. This could mean that a crime that took place ten years ago was not necessarily a crime, but an accident. Determining the exact conditions is a science that meteorologists go to school for many years to learn.

Many civil cases today involve the results of the elements, and whether negligence is involved. Homeowners could bring suit against a city for flood damage due to sewage drains backing up suggesting that the city did not plan properly and therefore were negligent and caused harm. The professionals that practice this educational tool would be able to determine if that were true or not.

Studying the weather in this way is reliable when used in conjunction with other tools, but not necessarily when used alone. When dealing with facts alone and seeking outcomes based on their probability, this education is highly sought. For information on this career path, speak with a representative of your police department.




About the Author: