The deposition takes place during the discovery session, which precedes a scheduled trial. Most of the questions come from the defendant’s lawyer.
Background questions
• What is your address now? What was your address in the past?
• What is your job? What is your salary?
• What were your former jobs? Why did you leave those positions?
• Have you pursued any legal claims in the past? A truthful answer should include mention of any worker’s compensation claim, any insurance claim and any prior lawsuits.
• Were you ever convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor?
• What illnesses or injuries have you had over the course of your life? The person that has been asked that question should simply state whatever he or she can remember.
Questions about the accident
• Where were you going? What was the purpose for going there? Was anyone with you?
• What did you know about the condition of the car that you were driving?
• What took place during the moments before the accident?
• Were you injured, if so, how?
• What doctors did you see?
• What sort of treatment did you receive?
• What sort of physical limitations have you had to deal with, since sustaining the injury that you have described?
• Have you experienced any pain or suffering, which was caused by your injury?
• Did you experience a loss of enjoyment, when your injury kept you from pursuing certain activities? If so, what activities were you forced to forego?
Possible questions from other lawyers in the room
Once the defendant’s lawyer has finished asking questions, you might have to answer the queries from your own Personal Injury Lawyer in Richmond Hill. These could be planned-for in advance. On the other hand, you might be given the opportunity to expand on some of the answers you gave to the defense attorney.
For instance, your attorney might realize that you had failed to offer details on a certain activity that you used to enjoy, but no longer could. If that were the case, then you might be encouraged to speak more about that particular activity or hobby.
The defense attorney had probably focused on your treatment. It could be that your own lawyer would like to showcase the invasive nature of a certain diagnostic test. If that were the case, then you would be asked to offer details on that specific test.
Welcome the opportunity to be guided, regarding the information that you can safely share during the deposition. Hopefully, you have not volunteered a great deal of information, when answering the defense attorney’s inquiries. Your own legal counsel can do the best job of encouraging you to share the most appropriate facts.
Of course, you must be truthful. Still, you can give short and direct answers.