Opinion ID: 1695575
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the trial court manifestly erred in refusing to allow jim bowman to testify as an accident reconstruction expert, after having been properly qualified as such.

Text: The Couchs contend that the trial court improperly excluded the testimony of Mr. Jim Bowman, who was tendered by the Couchs as an expert in the field of accident reconstruction. An accident reconstruction expert should be permitted to give his opinion on how an accident happened, the point of impact, the angle of travel, the responsibility of the parties involved, and the interpretation of photographs. Hollingsworth v. Bovaird Supply Co., 465 So.2d 311, 314 (Miss. 1985). See also Poirrier v. DeGrande, 604 So.2d 268, 270 (Miss. 1992). Allowing such an expert to testify will not usurp the function of the jury as fact-finders because the jury is free to accept or reject the expert's testimony just as they could with any other witness. Id. Rule 702 of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence provides: If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise. Once it is determined that expert testimony will assist the trier of fact, the expert must be adjudged qualified in his field. Poirrier at 270. The adjudication of whether a witness is legitimately qualified as an expert is left to the sound discretion of the trial judge. Id. See also Miller By Miller v. Stiglet, Inc., 523 So.2d 55, 59-60 (Miss. 1988); Hall v. Hilbun, 466 So.2d 856, 873 (Miss. 1985). Bowman's education and training reveal that he has vast experience in police department investigation and the reconstruction of traffic accidents. However, Bowman had no expertise in either engineering or road construction. Bowman's expert testimony concerning the causation of the accident was not reconstruction evidence, i.e., evidence taken by one who takes certain facts and reconstructs and assists the jury with scientific information which would indicate to them what happened at an accident scene where there are no other methods by which the parties can have a trial and show the causation. On remand, Jim Bowman may be retendered, if properly qualified, as an accident reconstruction expert. The trial judge may find it necessary to allow relevant portions of Bowman's testimony, limited to his opinion in the area of accident reconstruction. However, his expertise in other areas, such as engineering and road construction, are questionable and it remains within the discretion of the trial court whether to allow testimony at the time of proffer.