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5 Tips for Giving a Deposition in a Personal Injury Case
If you find yourself injured because of someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you may decide to file a personal injury lawsuit with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer. By doing this, you can take active steps to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
One of the components of a personal injury lawsuit is the deposition, which you’ll have to do as the claimant. Here are five tips for giving a deposition successfully.
Tip #1: Be Honest.
You have sworn to tell the truth -- and it’s important to stand by that vow. If the defense finds a hole in your testimony, it could mean a major setback for your entire case.
Tip #2: Stick with Your Words - not the Other Attorney’s.
Don’t let a leading question throw you off. If you aren’t on board with a question from the other attorney, or you don’t feel comfortable with the way it’s being asked, don’t agree with it.
Tip #3: Listen Well.
You may think you know exactly where a question is headed, but don’t start forming your answer until you have listened to the whole thing. Don’t offer any answers other than the exact answer to the question that was asked.
Tip #4: Watch Out for Absolutes.
If the other attorney uses words like “always” or “every,” be prepared to qualify your answers. You can say that you don’t necessarily remember whether you did something the same way every time, or that you’d like to defer to your official medical records in lieu of providing an answer on the stand.
Tip #5: Not Sure? Don’t Guess.
If you don’t know the answer to a question, do not try to guess. It’s better to say you don’t know than to guess something and potentially incriminate yourself in the process.
Contact WK for Help with Your Case!
This is certainly just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to depositions, and having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side is the best thing you can do to be successful in the courtroom. Contact us today for a free consultation!
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If you or a loved one have been injured and think you might have a case, call us now for a free consultation.