If you are pursuing a personal injury claim after sustaining injuries in a car accident, you might be required to attend a deposition during the discovery process. For most, this is a first-time experience and, given how much is at stake, many are often anxious and curious about what it entails. A car accident deposition cannot win your case, but if it goes poorly, your chances of a successful outcome will substantially decline.
Be Prepared
The best way to effectively navigate your car accident deposition is by knowing what to expect, so you can arrive prepared. Your attorney will help you prepare, but to ease your anxieties in the meantime, we compiled an overview of what to expect during your car accident deposition.
- You will feel tempted to say more than is necessary: It is a given that you will be expected to answer a series of questions. However, you should avoid providing elaborate explanations or responses. It might be tempting to try to get your side of the story out, but your best move in this situation is to limit how much you choose to say. The fewer details you provide, the better.
- You should be ready to answer questions about your treatment: Your car accident deposition will focus on more than the accident itself and what occurred. You will also be expected to answer questions about your medical history, personal background, the injuries you sustained, and the treatment you received. It can be hard to keep all of this information straight if you are not prepared and, unfortunately, providing inaccurate answers will hurt you. Whatever you do, never guess the answer to a question. Simply say that you do not know the answer.
- The defendant’s attorney will attempt to poke holes in your story: During the deposition, the defendant’s attorney will do everything possible to make you contradict yourself. If your statements do not match up, you will seem unreliable. You can expect this to happen if you gave multiple statements that have some discrepancies.
- The defendant’s attorney will do a lot of digging: You can expect the defendant’s attorney to ask a lot of random questions that might not seem related to the topic at hand. It is a tactic used to fish for answers that can harm your case.
Your attorney will ensure you are prepared to appropriately answer any question the defense team asks you, so make time to work with your team.
Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today!
If you were injured in a car accident, it is crucial to hire skilled legal representation. At Clawson & Clawson, LLP, our team is committed to providing exceptional guidance and advice to obtain the best possible results. Our personal injury attorneys have more than 100 years of combined legal experience and a reputation for success, so you can rely on us to provide the assistance you need.
Call us at (719) 602-5888 or contact us online for a free case review.