How To Ace Your Deposition Testimony During An Injury Lawsuit
by Joan Bradley
The deposition is one of the most important stages of your personal injury lawsuit. Deposition gives you the chance to be a witness for your case, which means it can make or break the case. Here are a few tips on how to ace the deposition and use it to strengthen your case:
Only Give an Answer after Understanding the Question
The answers you give are important in determining your case, so you should give the correct answers. This is only possible if you first take your time to understand the questions. Don't be afraid to ask for clarification, say you don't understand the question or give an "I don't know" answer as long as it is the truth. That is better than guessing or giving an incorrect answer.
Don't Volunteer Information
Another useful tip is to answer only the question you have been asked, and nothing more. Be advised that the defense attorney is a skilled and experienced interrogator, and they will be looking to trip you up at every opportunity. Volunteering information will only make the attorney's work easy because you may reveal information they can use against you.
Be Utterly Honest
During your deposition, expect the opposing side to double check everything you say. This means if you lie, the defense attorney is likely to find the truth later if not during the deposition. Therefore, it is in your best interest to be utterly honest. Do this whether the question is embarrassing or seems personal; it's better to be embarrassed and honest as far as your deposition is concerned.
Follow Your Attorneys Advice to the Letter
Your injury attorney knows that deposition can be scary and difficult to handle for those who don't have the experience. Therefore, the attorney will advise and coach you on how to handle the deposition. They will tell you how to dress, talk, and answer questions. It would not be wise to hire a lawyer and then fail to follow their advice.
Don't Be Afraid To Correct Yourself
Lastly, there is always a chance that you may make a mistake with one or two of your answers. That should not be a problem as long as you correct yourself after realizing your mistake. Even if you realize a mistake after moving on from the question or topic, you have the right to go back and correct your answer.
Facing a deposition without a lawyer, especially if you have never been in a deposition, is a daunting task. This is one of the reasons you should not handle an injury case without the help of a law office like Trump & Trump.
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About Me
You walk into your favorite grocery store and right away, you slip and fall only to sprain your ankle. You can't perform your job because it requires standing on your feet all day, which means that you can't make any money to support your family while your ankle heals. There was no warning that the floors were wet after being cleaned in the store – so what do you do? It's probably a good idea to think about filing a personal injury lawsuit. Of course, anyone with experience with a personal injury case will tell you just how important it is to work with an attorney throughout the process. I'd like to share insight I've learned through three personal injury cases that I myself have had to go through in the past. I think the information on this website can help people like you, who need some personal injury guidance.