Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit will initiate many legal processes that Houston accident victims may be unfamiliar with. One that gives many claimants anxiety is the deposition process. A deposition does not have to be intimidating, and a well-prepared deposition can be important to the success of your case.
When preparing a deposition, you should work with a Houston personal injury attorney at West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD today to protect your legal rights.
What Is a Deposition?
A deposition is a question-and-answer session between a party involved in a personal injury claim and a lawyer. In most cases, if you have to give a deposition during your personal injury claim, you will be answering questions from the attorney of the other party. You will answer these questions honestly while under oath, and anything said during the deposition can be used as evidence if your case goes to trial.
Usually, a deposition does not happen inside a courtroom, but instead at an attorney’s office, where there will be you, your attorney, the other party’s attorney, and a court reporter. The reporter will record the deposition and transcribe it so that it can be used as a document during the trial. When your personal injury lawyer is present during a deposition, he or she can help you answer the questions in a way that will not harm your rights or case.
What Types of Personal Injury Cases Require Depositions?
A deposition is a part of the discovery process of a personal injury case. It takes place after a plaintiff files a personal injury lawsuit and before the court date. The discovery process provides both sides involved in the case with a chance to gather more information, evidence, and documentation based on what each side already knows. Depositions are often spoken interviews, while interrogatories are written questions.
If your personal injury case settles before you file your suit, you will not have to go through a deposition. However, if the insurance provider refuses to offer a fair settlement or denies your claim, you may have to go up against the defendant at trial. In this case, you should expect a deposition. If a deposition is part of your personal injury case, you are required to participate, and it is mandatory to go in for questioning upon receiving a notice of deposition.
Preparing for a Deposition
If you find out that you will have to participate in a deposition, it shouldn’t be cause for alarm. It is true that a deposition can be a crucial part of your case, but there are ways you can prepare ahead of time. Work closely with a Houston personal injury lawyer for in-depth information about what you should expect.
- Review the facts. The deposition will be your chance to provide testimony on record as to what took place. Establish the facts and circumstances in your own words beforehand so your words will be easy to find even if you are nervous during the deposition.
- Go over potential questions with your lawyer. Your attorney will have years of experience attending depositions with clients, so he or she can provide some possible questions the attorney will likely ask. This will help you prepare your answers in advance.
- Take your time. Never let anything, even the lawyer asking the questions, pressure you during the deposition. Take your time listening and understanding the questions and answer them clearly and precisely. You may request breaks when needed.
A usual deposition begins with questions about your basic personal information and then will continue into your physical condition before the accident and a description of your current injuries. You will also be able to describe the accident in your own words. At the close of the deposition, you will testify about how your life has changed following the accident.
An attorney can help you prepare for a deposition, including providing tips on what to say and what not to say. Your attorney can also offer you advice on how to conduct yourself and can even accompany you into the room where the deposition takes place.
For any information about personal injury depositions, consult with a Texas personal injury attorney at West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD.
Houston Personal Injury Lawyers
After being injured in an accident, you need an experienced personal injury attorney in Houston to answer all your questions. You need to know that you’re not alone after being unfairly injured by the negligence of another party.
When looking for a qualified attorney to pursue a personal injury claim, look no further than West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD. Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD, Nader A. Rabie, JD, and the rest of our legal team have years of experience fighting for the rights of Houston car crash victims, and we want to help you. The sooner you give us a call, the sooner we can help you obtain the recovery you need and deserve. Contact our law offices at 713-840-7200 to discuss your case today.
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