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Plaintiff sues DeliveryCo after a van struck her bicycle in a downtown intersection. Plaintiff calls Bystander, who watched the van approach from a sidewalk cafe. Bystander will testify that the van was "going about 45 miles per hour," that it "looked like the driver was fighting the wheel," and that the driver "seemed panicked." Bystander has driven for 30 years but has no mechanical training.
Plaintiff also calls Mechanic, a repair technician who serviced the same van two weeks after the crash. Mechanic will testify that, based on the feel of the steering column during the repair, "the steering rack had been failing for months and caused the crash." DeliveryCo objects that Bystander and Mechanic are offering improper opinions. Plaintiff did not disclose Mechanic as an expert.
How should the court rule on the proposed opinion testimony? Discuss lay opinion, expert opinion, helpfulness, specialized knowledge, and any disclosure or reliability issues.