What Sorts of Questions Could I Be Asked At A Personal Injury Deposition?

The plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit is usually required to appear at a pre-trial deposition. Plaintiffs that have prepared ahead of time should not find it terribly difficult to answer the typical questions.

Questions about the witness (plaintiff)

• What is your current address? What was your address at other times in the past 10 years?
• What is your current job? What other jobs have you held during the past 10 years? Why did you leave those same jobs?
• Have you filed any other legal claims or lawsuits?
• Were you ever convicted of any crimes?
• What illnesses have you had over the course of your life?

Questions about the accident

• Describe the details, regarding that tragic incident.
• Where were you going?
• Where were you coming from?
• What route did you take?
• What activities had you engaged in, before getting on the road?
• Did you have any passengers?
• Describe the details relating to your injuries.
• How were your injuries treated?
• Who is paying for the treatment?
• Do you have any limitations now?
• How have your injuries affected other aspects of your life?

How to prepare for answering the above questions?

Any accident victim could forget all the details, concerning that injury-causing incident, after the passage of a month or more. That is why lawyers encourage their clients to prepare for any deposition.

Any accident victim that has already written answers to one or more interrogatories should review those same answers. Personal injury lawyers in Trenton look for any type of inconsistency in the answers provided by a given witness.

Any victims that have received a copy of the police report, or of an accident report ought to set aside time for reviewing those same reports. Victims also feel more confident about their answers, after reviewing their past medical bills and the copies of their medical records.

Understand how to provide the questioner/lawyer with the answer to any question.

Never feel that the lawyer expects an immediate response. Witnesses have the right to take their time about answering any question. Plaintiffs that do not know the answer should say that they have no clear recollection of that particular event, or that interaction with a medical professional.

No witness should ever guess at an answer. No witness should lie or exaggerate the truth. Smart plaintiffs learn ahead of time how to avoid looking nervous or confused. By the same token, each of them should seek help from a friend, with the elimination of telltale hand gestures, during presentation of any question. Some friends might be able to create a video clip of the plaintiff sharing a few simple answers.

Plaintiffs that watch such a clip gain greater insight into how any gesture might send the wrong message to others.