The deposition provides you with the opportunity to give live testimony regarding the details of your accident. During your deposition, it is important that you behave in a manner that lends credibility to your story and strengthens your case. Here are a few tips from our Decatur personal injury lawyer on how you should conduct yourself during a deposition.
Be Prepared for a Variety of Different Questions
Prior to your deposition, your Decatur personal injury lawyer will prepare you for questions you should expect to receive. However, you will also likely receive questions for which you are not prepared. If this happens, do not be alarmed. Simply pause and try to answer the questions to the best of your ability. If you do not know the answer to a question or cannot recall, it is okay to say so. Do not look to your attorney to coach you into an answer. This is not permissible and will only hurt your case.
Be Prepared to Reconstruct the Accident Scene
A common technique employed by defense counsel during a deposition is to ask the plaintiff to reconstruct the accident scene. This helps provide a visible guide that can help everyone in the room to better understand your testimony. If you are asked to draw a picture of the scene, do so clearly and with as much detail as you can recall.
Disclose Information Truthfully
It is possible during the deposition that you may receive questions that you are not comfortable answering. If this happens, you must still answer the question truthfully. One example of such a question is whether you have discussed the details of the accident with anyone and, if so, who they are. Many clients do not like this question because they fear that prior conversations will be used against them. Let your Decatur personal injury lawyer be concerned with any answers that could hurt your case. As a witness, your sole focus should be on answering the questions completely and truthfully.
Do Not Volunteer Information
When preparing you for your deposition, your attorney may ask you questions that may not be asked during the actual deposition. If this happens, do not be shocked as your attorney will strategically decide what questions should or should not be asked. If your attorney does not ask a question that you prepared for, do not volunteer the information. If your attorney wanted the answer the question would have been asked. Follow your attorney’s lead and focus only on the questions being asked in the deposition room, not on what you think should be asked.
Contact Our Decatur Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured in an accident, contact the Decatur personal injury attorneys at McCarthy Rowden & Baker. Call our office at 800-373-6050 to schedule an initial consultation today.