Vehicular Brake Failure Allegedly Caused by Snowy Conditions

Case Overview

This case study delves into an incident involving an individual who experienced a vehicular accident while navigating downhill. The plaintiff alleges that their vehicle's brakes malfunctioned, leading to a right-angle collision with another car.

A critical detail in the police report indicates the presence of snow on the ground at the time of the accident. The central issue in this case is determining whether snow was actively falling or had recently fallen on the day of the accident, necessitating an expert evaluation of meteorological data.

Questions to the Weather expert and their responses

Could you provide some insight into your professional background in climatology/meteorology, particularly as it pertains to evaluating weather data?

I bring over 45 years of experience in analyzing and predicting weather patterns, specifically within mid-Atlantic states. My career includes a significant tenure as the chief meteorologist for a major network in Syracuse spanning 37 years. This role endowed me with comprehensive knowledge and expertise in interpreting complex weather data.

What specific information would be necessary for you to access and evaluate to determine snowfall on a particular day?

To formulate an expert opinion on this matter, I would need to obtain data from the National Center for Environmental Information. This organization maintains extensive meteorological records that can help establish whether snow was falling or had recently fallen on the specified date.

Have you previously reviewed cases similar to this one? If so, could you elaborate?

Yes, my work has often involved similar scenarios. For instance, I have collaborated extensively with NYC Transit Authority—a long-standing client—to monitor snow and ice conditions and their potential effects on travel safety. My responsibilities include alerting them about impending weather changes that could impact road conditions.

In conclusion, my vast experience in climatology and meteorology positions me to effectively evaluate the weather conditions on the day of the accident and provide an expert opinion on their potential impact on road safety. I am eager to delve deeper into this case.

About the expert

This expert boasts over four decades of meteorological experience, with a distinguished career that includes a long tenure as the chief meteorologist at a prominent media outlet. They hold the Television Weathercasting Seal of Approval from the American Meteorological Society and have held significant roles in various weather forecasting organizations. Currently, they lead their own meteorologic consulting firm, leveraging their extensive knowledge to provide expert analysis on weather-related incidents.

E-074950

Specialties:

Weather

Zach Barreto is a distinguished professional in the legal industry, currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Research at the Expert Institute. With a deep understanding of a broad range of legal practice areas, Zach's expertise encompasses personal injury, medical malpractice, mass torts, defective products, and many other sectors. His skills are particularly evident in handling complex litigation matters, including high-profile cases like the Opioids litigation, NFL Concussion Litigation, California Wildfires, 3M earplugs, Elmiron, Transvaginal Mesh, NFL Concussion Litigation, Roundup, Camp Lejeune, Hernia Mesh, IVC filters, Paraquat, Paragard, Talcum Powder, Zantac, and many others.

Under his leadership, the Expert Institute’s research team has expanded impressively from a single member to a robust team of 100 professionals over the last decade. This growth reflects his ability to navigate the intricate and demanding landscape of legal research and expert recruitment effectively. Zach has been instrumental in working on nationally significant litigation matters, including cases involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, toxic chemical exposure, and wrongful death, among others.

At the Expert Institute, Zach is responsible for managing all aspects of the research department and developing strategic institutional relationships. He plays a key role in equipping attorneys for success through expert consulting, case management, strategic research, and expert due diligence provided by the Institute’s cloud-based legal services platform, Expert iQ.

Educationally, Zach holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and European History from Vanderbilt University.