Expert Witness

Expert witnesses provide testimony in many cases, including personal injury cases. Parties on both sides of the case may offer expert witness testimony during a trial. Parties may also use expert witnesses to assist them during the pre-trial investigation. 

Testimony from an expert witness can assist jurors in understanding issues and concepts that might be difficult for a layperson to understand. For example, expert witness testimony may help jurors interpret the meaning of technical evidence and how it relates to the disputed matters. Continue reading to learn more about expert witnesses in California personal injury cases.

Who Qualifies As an Expert Witness in California? 

California Evidence Code §720 states that a person is qualified to testify as an expert if they have extraordinary experience, knowledge, training, skill, or education sufficient to qualify as an expert in their particular field. 

Qualifications that the court may view to determine whether a person is an “expert” in a specific subject include, but are not limited to:

• Professional credentials, including training, education, and skills
• Years of experience in their particular field
• Published research and studies
• Peer-reviewed papers and articles 
• Specialized certifications, training, and knowledge
• Reputation in the field

Under California Evidence Code §801, expert witnesses may testify regarding their opinions and inferences based on the facts of the case. In contrast, a lay witness may only testify about their perceptions of a situation based on what they actually saw or heard. Therefore, an expert witness can provide unbiased testimony regarding a much more comprehensive range of issues than a lay witness.