Deposition Tips for a Personal Injury Plaintiff

As a Jacksonville personal injury attorney will tell you, the deposition is an important part of your personal injury case. There are some things you can do and things you shouldn’t do in order to help your case. A Jacksonville personal injury lawyer offers the following tips:

Speaking

Do not lie.
Carefully listen to the questions.
Make certain that you understand the questions.
Keep your answers as short as possible.
Speak clearly and audibly to make sure that you can be heard.
Avoid hesitation when you answer questions.
Do not use definite words like “never” or “always” unless you are completely sure.
Avoid joking around.
Say something just to fill the silence.
Do not try to fix a question.
Answer the question as it was asked.

General behavior

Do not look inside your pocket or purse for documents or anything else.
Avoid arguing with or showing hostility to the opposing side, or anyone else.
Do not criticize your doctor, except if this is a malpractice case.
Do not engage in small talk.
Dress appropriately for court, in business attire.
Do not justify yourself, or your answer.

Opposing counsel

You should not agree to furnish documents at a later time.
You should not automatically believe what the defense attorney tells you.
Let the opposing counsel, or anyone, know that you are worried about going to trial.

You should not lie; however, you should be careful with the truth. Certain truths can threaten a personal injury case. Your attorney can coach you and help you respond to questions in the best possible way. If you choose to lie, it could devastate your case. Do not risk it. You can use the deposition to build your credibility with the opposition lawyer. This could result in a settlement offer, for example. The other side may be less inclined to go to trial against you, if you prove to be a solid deponent.

If you have questions about your personal injury case, consider speaking with a Jacksonville personal injury attorney. Please call the office of injury lawyer John Fagan at 904-278-1000.