Mr. Gritton began his career in accident investigation when he was appointed to the California Highway Patrol Academy in 1968. As a Traffic Officer he investigated and assisted in the investigations of several hundred traffic collisions. As a field supervisor (Sergeant), he assisted, trained, and evaluated officers in their performance at collision scenes. In 1988, after his retirement from the Highway Patrol, Mr. Gritton worked as an Assistant Superintendent of Bus Operations for the Orange County Transit District. His duties included supervising and counseling bus operators that had been involved in traffic collisions. In 1992, after attending the Northwestern University Traffic Institute, he became a full time accident reconstructionist and collision consultant. He has qualified as an expert in his chosen field throughout Southern California, working for both the plaintiff and defense in civil actions, and for both the prosecution and defense in criminal matters. Mr. Gritton is an expert in all phases of accident investigation, vehicle dynamics and traffic accident reconstruction including automobiles, bicycles, buses, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and pedestrians.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (A.C.T.A.R.), Associates Degree in the Administration of Justice, Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) - Basic, Advanced, Intermediate, and Supervisory Certificates, Crash Data Retrieval Systems Training Certificate, Vericom 2000/3000 Dynamometer and Brake Testing Certificate, Weapons Training and Physical Methods of Arrest Instructor Training Certification.
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: The National Associatio of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists (N.A.P.A.R.S.), Southwest Association of Technical Accident Investigators (S.A.T.A.I.), Illinois Association of Technical Accident Investigators (I.A.T.A.I.), Society of Accident Reconstructionists (S.O.A.R.), the California Association of Highway Patrolmen (C.A.H.P.)
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: Instructor for the First Offender (Drunk) Driving Program between 1982 and 1988.
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: All ares of accident investigation and Reconstruction, Police Procedures, and Law Enforcement.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: Approximately 20 percent.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: Approximately 80 percent.
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: More than 20 times.
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: May 2006
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: Approximately 35 times.
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: 32 Jury Trials, 3 Court Trials, 7 Small Claims Trials, 43 Binding Arbitrations, 13 Non-Binding Arbitrations, 5 Misc.
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: 20 years law enforcement experience, and more than 14 years as an Accident Reconstruction and Collision Consultant.
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Accident Reconstruction of Automobile, Commercial Vehicle including Buses and Trucks, Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Pedestrians. Crash Data Retrieval, Brake Testing with Vericom 2000/3000, RADAR, Tire and Lamp Examinations, Speed from Skids, Lighting, and Scaled Scene Diagrams, etc.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: $125.00
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: $125.00
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: $250.00
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: 250.00
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: $0.50 per mile, $2.50 per photograph, reimbursement costs (i.e., the purchase of police photographs, reports, etc.)
