A deposition is a discovery tool used by attorneys to gather information and help prepare for a trial. If your personal injury claim does not settle relatively quickly, your Baton Rouge injury attorney will file a lawsuit on your behalf seeking compensation for your damages.
At trial, your attorney must prove all legal elements of your case to be successful. The opposing attorneys will work to defend against your claim. Depositions help both attorneys understand what to expect and to secure key testimony from essential witnesses.
Depositions can be tricky if you are not prepared. An experienced personal injury lawyer in Baton Rouge will help ensure you are ready for your deposition and will be beside you to protect your rights.
What to Expect in a Personal Injury Case Deposition
While a deposition typically takes place outside the courtroom, often at your attorney’s office, you will be under oath, and the deposition transcript will be evidence in your case.
You will first be “sworn in” by a court reporter who will ask you to swear to tell the truth during your deposition. If you intentionally lie under oath in a deposition, you may be guilty of perjury. The court reporter will be recording your deposition and may also videotape it.
The defense attorney will ask you questions about your accident, injuries, treatment, and how your life has been impacted by the accident. You should answer truthfully. However, you should only answer the question asked and refrain from providing additional information when possible.
If you do not know the answer to a question, you should say you don’t know rather than guess. And if you don’t understand a question, it is okay to ask the attorney to repeat or explain their question.
Your personal injury attorney may object to a question or response for reasons such as relevance, form of the question, or to assert a privilege. If your attorney objects, stop talking and wait until they instruct you to continue.
If you need a break, such as to use the bathroom or collect yourself, you can ask for one. Most depositions break about every hour for parties to use the bathroom, get water, and move around.
What Happens After the Deposition is Over?
When the deposition is finished, the court reporter will create a transcript of your testimony. You will have a chance to review your deposition and report any errors you find. However, you cannot change your testimony.
If your testimony at trial is inconsistent with your deposition testimony, the transcript can be used against you and can make you seem untrustworthy to the jury.
In many cases, the deposition can help encourage settlement negotiations. But if your case goes to trial, the deposition transcript will be used as evidence to support or challenge your claims. Both sides will use the transcript when preparing for trial.
How a Baton Rouge Injury Lawyer at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys Can Help You
If you have been injured in an accident caused by another party, we want to help you. Our team of Baton Rouge personal injury lawyers will build your strongest case, prepare you, protect your rights during depositions and all legal proceedings, and help you recover maximum compensation.
Call (225) 999-1111 or visit our contact page now to schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim with a personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge.