Giving a deposition in a personal injury case can be a nerve-wracking task, but keeping calm and going there prepared will make a big difference.
If you were injured in a car accident and now you are in the discovery phase of your personal injury case, you might want to be prepared for giving a deposition. In the discovery phase, both parties have to exchange the information they have so that they can prepare for the next step of the trial.
During your deposition, your St. Louis car accident attorney and the insurance company lawyer may ask questions, and you will answer under oath. That means that what you declare can be used as evidence in the case. While your lawyer will try to show how the injuries affected your life, the insurance company defense lawyers will attack any inconsistency or vague statements and use them to damage your credibility.
It is important that you are prepared when you give a deposition. Your St. Louis auto injury attorney will surely instruct you and give tips on how to word your statements and what to emphasize, but here are some tips you can read that summarize the basic things to consider.
Don’t Exaggerate the Facts
Even if your personal injury has affected your entire life and you are feeling intense emotions over the changes you need to face now, try to remain objective when presenting the facts. Exaggerating facts can be identified and pointed out by defense lawyers, which could be bad for your credibility.
Being unprepared for your deposition will definitely show, and it will be exploited by the defense attorneys. Before you give a deposition, recap all the details of the incident and the aftermath, and structure it in your mind clearly, so that you don’t seem hesitant or unsure about what happened. The lawyers will ask a lot of questions, asking for details and timelines of the events, so be prepared to answer straightforward and with confidence.
Keep Your Answers Concise – Short and Clear
Depositions are not actually doing a favor to the victim of a car accident. They are a good opportunity for the defense lawyers to build up a case against you. So, the best approach is to give them less material to work with. Keep your answers short and simple and don’t provide details that could be interpreted and used against you. If you are not sure about what to answer, it’s best to ask for a rewording of a question.
Keep a Polite and Serious Image
Defend your credibility by showing up on time for your deposition, wearing clean and appropriate clothing and talking politely and calmly. Anger and other emotions can damage your deposition, so make sure you are prepared, confident and strong when being challenged by the defense.
Giving a deposition in a personal injury case can be a nerve-wracking task, but keeping calm and going there prepared will make a big difference. Remember what everyone is there for and keep your deposition clear and working in your advantage.