What is the main distinction between a fact witness and an expert witness?

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The distinction between a fact witness and an expert witness primarily lies in the nature of their testimony. A fact witness can provide testimony based solely on their direct observations and experiences related to the matter at hand. This includes recounting facts that they witnessed or were involved in, but it does not extend to offering opinions or interpretations beyond their direct experience.

On the other hand, an expert witness possesses specialized knowledge, skills, or experience in a particular area and can offer opinions that are informed by that expertise. This ability to provide opinion-based testimony, often underpinned by their professional background or training, allows expert witnesses to interpret evidence or facts in ways that fact witnesses cannot. Therefore, the key difference is that an expert witness has the capacity to give opinions while a fact witness is limited to presenting factual observations without inferring or interpreting what those facts mean. This distinction is crucial in legal settings where the credibility and authority of the testimony can significantly impact the outcome of a case.

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