If you bring a personal injury claim against an insurance company, chances are you’re going to have to give a deposition at some point. A deposition is simply an interview with the opposing attorney under oath about the accident. The opposing attorney will ask you questions about the accident and your injuries to put together exactly what happened. As your attorneys, we’ll be right by your side, so there’s nothing to worry about. However, it is important that you’re prepared.
Here are 3 tips for giving a good deposition:
- Stick to the facts. The opposing attorney is going to ask you several questions. Answer these questions with yes or no answers as often as possible. Don’t elaborate unless they ask you to do so with a specific question. Remember, your answers are being documented and will be revisited if your case goes to trial. Answer the question and that’s it.
- Process before answering. Take a moment after every question to process what the attorney is asking. Only once you know how you’re going to answer, should you begin speaking. There are no points given for answering quickly. Take all the time you need.
- Don’t guess. If the opposing attorney asks you a question and you’re not sure of the answer, don’t guess. Simply inform the attorney that you don’t recall or don’t know. Once you commit to an answer, it becomes a part of the record, so don’t guess. If you wish to correct something you said, it’s absolutely okay to do so. Simply inform the opposing attorney that you’d like to modify your answer on a specific question. It’s far better to do so in your deposition than on the witness stand.
At Ponce Law, we stand with our clients throughout the entire injury claim process. We know a deposition can be scary, but we’ll properly prepare you and be by your side the entire time, so there’s no reason to be nervous. This is one of the first steps to putting your life back together, and we’re ready to take that step with you.
