What is an expert witness?

An expert witness is a person who has specialized knowledge or skills in a certain field. They are brought in to provide testimony in court in order to give specialized insight into the matter. In Indiana, the definition of an expert witness is laid out in Indiana Code 35-36-1-5 which states “An expert witness is a witness, including a party, who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education on the subject matter about which the expert is to testify.” Expert witnesses are typically qualified based on their expertise in a particular area, such as a doctor who can testify to the impact of a medical procedure, or an engineer who can offer insight into the cause of an accident. Expert witness testimony can be influential in a court decision, as the witness’s opinion is often based on research and data that is not available to the typical layperson. In Indiana, the court generally must find that the witness is indeed qualified to testify, and also that the witness’s opinion is based on reliable facts, in order for the expert witness testimony to be admissible.

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