If you are facing DWI charges, it is an extremely serious matter that can seriously affect your future in important ways. While the State of Texas may have expert witnesses in the form of police officers who routinely provide such testimony, this does not make them actual experts on the topic and should not overly intimidate you. In fact, having an expert witness of your own can mean the difference between ultimately being convicted and being acquitted.
Your Case
Not every type of expert witness is appropriate for every case. Further, it is important to point out that hiring an expert witness can be quite costly, but the costs and negative consequences associated with a DWI conviction can be even greater – and should be assiduously avoided. The most common types of legal experts who are successfully engaged in DWI cases typically include:
- Forensic toxicology experts
- Field sobriety test experts
- Accident reconstruction experts
Forensic Toxicology Experts
Because DWI cases often focus on blood alcohol content (BAC), forensic toxicology experts can play an important role. Without an expert evaluation of the results obtained from tests that are intended to measure your BAC, the evidence can be damaging. There are multiple reasons, for example, why the BAC reading from your breath or blood test might be misleading or even inaccurate, including:
- The sample you provided was compromised in some way
- The testing protocols were not followed exactly
- There was a break in the chain of custody regarding your sample
- A foreign substance in your breath or blood lead to a false positive
Field Sobriety Test Expert
in order to be accurate and fair, field sobriety tests must be performed according to exacting standards. Officers typically have dash cameras and often wear body cameras that can provide vital information, which allows field sobriety test experts to make solid cases in demonstration of officers’ nonadherence to all necessary protocols.
Accident Reconstruction Experts
If your DWI charges involve a serious accident in which someone was seriously injured – or worse – determining whether your driving (and therefore your alleged impairment) actually caused the accident in the first place is critical. An accident reconstruction expert can get to the bottom of your case, and sometimes, the cause is determined to be another driver’s negligence, a mechanical defect in one of the vehicles, faulty traffic lights, road construction with inadequate or otherwise unsafe signage, and many others.
Seek the Professional Legal Counsel of an Experienced Lawyer
If you are facing DWI charges, it is critical that you take the matter seriously and bring your strongest defense. A DWI conviction can reverberate into your future in surprisingly negative and consequential ways. Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Killeen, Texas, is a dedicated criminal lawyer who is committed to skillfully applying his considerable experience and resources in support of your rights and in defense of your case. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact or call us at 254-501-4040 today.