California DUI Expert Witness

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious charge, and you need a defense attorney who is serious about results. If you have been charged with drunk driving, a San Diego DUI lawyer can help. Qualified DUI defense law firms usually have a team of California DUI Expert Witnesses who can help when your case goes to trial.

During a DUI case, the prosecution can call the arresting officer to the stand to testify about your guilt. It is important to have an expert witness in your corner to counteract the testimony of the police officer. Expert witnesses know their field inside and out and can clearly explain high-level scientific processes in a language that the jury can understand.

In some cases, a DUI may be charged as a felony offense if there was an accident. An accident reconstruction expert can investigate your case to determine who was at fault for the collision. The expert will go to the scene to gather physical evidence, such as skid marks, and interview eyewitnesses. He or she will also do research to determine if the vehicles involved were malfunctioning or had any recalls. The accident reconstruction expert can then offer his or her opinion about who was at fault for the accident. If it is determined that the defendant was not at fault, his or her felony charge may be reduced.

Because of California’s “per se” laws, which make it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or higher, you may need to have a chemical test expert on your side. The chemical test expert will explain the flaws in the tests to the jury. For example, certain dental and medical conditions may lead to an inaccurate test result.

Police officers often use field sobriety tests to determine if a drunk-driving arrest can be made. However, these tests are far from scientific. A field sobriety test expert can review the field sobriety test to look for evidence on the defendant’s behalf. For example, if the defendant exhibited no signs of physical impairment, the expert can argue that the defendant was not impaired by drugs or alcohol. When a person consumes alcohol, his or her mind becomes impaired before his or her body. If there was no evidence of mental impairment during the test, but there was evidence of physical impairment, the physical impairment may be due to an injury or less-than-ideal testing conditions.

If you are interested in learning more about what a California DUI expert witness can do for your case, contact a San Diego DUI lawyer today.