Information
about the Deposition Process from Your Tampa Personal Injury
Attorney
For
many personal injury cases, it’s necessary to take
depositions. Simply defined, a deposition is testimony from
a witness. Deposition testimony is taken under oath and
outside of the courtroom. The transcript, or record, of
a deposition then becomes part of the court’s file.
Having
a combined 100 years of experience as a Tampa
personal injury attorney firm, Clark and Martino, P.A.,
has found that depositions can be a stressful experience
for some of our clients. It’s understandable how a
deposition can be unsettling, as it usually involves answering
a lot of questions, and all of those answers become part
of a permanent record that the witness could be asked about
later at a trial. Whenever you are faced with the possibility
of a deposition, consider these pointers:
-
Dress for a deposition in a way that would make you presentable
during a trial before a judge and jury.
-
Ask your Tampa personal injury attorney about the rules
beforehand, for example, how many breaks you will get
or whether you’re allowed to ask for a break if
you need one.
-
There’s no need to rush with your answers. A deposition
is not a timed event. Feel free to stop and think about
what you want to say before you answer.
-
It’s not recommended that you improvise, adlib,
or give extra information. Be truthful and keep your answers
as short as possible. Answers like, “Yes,”
“No,” “I don’t remember,”
and “I don’t know” are perfectly acceptable
as long as they are true.
-
If you offer more information than what is being requested,
you risk being asked more questions later.
-
Always tell the truth.
-
Be cooperative and non-argumentative to the person asking
the questions. Since your Tampa personal injury attorney
should be in the room with you during the deposition,
he or she will be able to raise objections when you are
treated improperly.
-
Be prepared to answer general questions about all the
places you’ve ever lived (including addresses),
the places you’ve worked, and every injury, illness,
surgery, and doctor you’ve ever had.
-
Be prepared to answer thorough questions about your injury,
pain, what caused the injury, and how you feel now.
-
When you are asked about times and dates, it’s best
to use words like “about” and “approximately”
unless you know the exact time of an event.
One
of the most difficult aspects of a deposition is that the
questions are often asked by the defense, or your “opponent,”
in the case. There is always a possibility that the defense
can use your deposition during a trial. Considering how
important a deposition could be to the outcome of your case,
it’s vital for you to have an experienced Tampa
personal injury attorney by your side. Please feel free
to call Clark and Martino, P.A., for more information about
scheduling a free consultation about your case.
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