Personal Injury Accident Depositions
Depositions are a key discovery mechanism used to evaluate personal injury accident cases in civil lawsuits. In the deposition of the injured plaintiff, the plaintiff is asked questions, under oath, about their background, the incident, their injuries, their damages, and other relevant topics. It is the opposing counsel’s opportunity to evaluate the factual circumstances of liability and damages, but also an opportunity to evaluate the credibility and reliability of the plaintiff themselves. Accordingly, it is imperative to be properly prepared for the deposition. Come appropriately dressed. Listen to each question carefully. Tell the truth. Do not be evasive. Do not guess or speculate. Answer the questions. Your attorney should object to questions when necessary and have a thorough understanding of the case prior to the deposition. While no party is going to “win” there case at the deposition, a poor deposition may mean that the party could “lose” the case outright or the value of the case could be greatly diminished. These principles apply not only to personal injury cases, but also to contract claims, property claims, insurance claims, employment claims, and many others.