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Preparing an Expert In Your San Diego DUI Case
Every professional in San Diego should have the training in his or her field. It is important to look for certain skills in hiring a San Diego DUI expert. The following are list of criteria I would make sure an expert has experienced during their careers.
Most experts have participated in correlation studies. These are studies where people are given different amounts of alcohol and ask to perform different field sobriety tests. Experts can gain experience in a controlled environment concerning the effects of alcohol on people and their ability to drive at different levels.
Most experts have participated in ride-a-longs that allows an expert to experience in the uncontrolled environment of the field. This allows an expert to obtain real work experience from the perspective of law enforcement.
Most experts should have bench work in a laboratory actually performing alcohol analysis. Be careful in hiring an expert that does not have this area of expertise. A person that manages a laboratory may sound impressive but there is no substitute for someone that does the grunt work of running the tests.
Most experts should be familiar with past and current literature in the area of DUI stops and arrests in San Diego. Try to determine the currency of the potential literature. Be careful of hiring an expert who is not current and up to date with issues arising out of DUI stops and arrests throughout San Diego. All the experts that I hire spend time reading technical journals in the field and are well researched on the science behind the various tests and their accuracy in the field.
As DUI attorneys are responsible of being associated with professional associations, it is important that your expert is held to the same standard. All experts should belong to a professional toxicology association. Within the association you can determine whether the expert has any licenses issued in the area of alcohol analysis.
After you have picked your expert to testify on your behalf at trial, it is important to make sure that person gets the discovery in your case early enough to prepare for the San Diego trial. I provide experts with police reports, alcohol test results, and the maintenance and calibration records of any device used to perform the BAC test here in San Diego. It is important to be sure to ask the prosecution for specific discovery early on so that you can turn it over to your expert.
If you have any questions about obtaining an expert opinion regarding your San Diego DUI case, contact San Diego DUI attorney Vik Monder at 619.405.0063 or visit San Diego Criminal Attorney
