When you have been involved in a serious accident, it is crucial to not only understand your rights, but to exercise caution when you talk with anyone. You should be able to work with a professional attorney to move forward with getting the settlement you need to heal and recover, although many people don't see it that way.
Choosing a new attorney could be the difference between getting a great settlement and watching possibilities slip out of your fingers. On this blog, learn more about what it means to work with a new lawyer, and how they could help you to start on the road to recovery.
2 Mistakes To Avoid During Your Car Accident Deposition
When you are the victim in a car accident case and you pursue a claim with the insurance company of the negligent party, you can expect to provide a deposition. A deposition is a meeting you attend to answer questions about your case while you are under oath. During your deposition, the attorneys presiding over the meeting are there to determine if your claim should be paid by the insurance company. However, there are some critical mistakes you need to avoid while you provide your deposition. Here is what you need to know.
You Should Not be Dishonest
During your deposition, you will be asked a series of questions about the accident. As you provide answers, you must tell the truth. Part of your deposition may include questions about your past. For some people, this may bring up embarrassing or upsetting events you have lived through that you may think will harm your case. If you, for instance, have a criminal past and you are asked about it, do not try to lie about it. Chances are that the attorneys already know the answer to those questions. The answers you provide should be true even if the questions are difficult. In many cases, criminal activity will not have an impact on your claim. If you were arrested for shoplifting over a decade ago but have been a model citizen ever since, more than likely the activity will not be relevant to your claim.
You also need to be truthful about the events of the accident. If you are asked if you were wearing a seatbelt and you answer you were when you actually were not, it can harm your claim because you may be seen as unreliable. The police report will already include this information, so it is best to be upfront.
You Should Not Exaggerate the Facts
As you answer the questions asked by the attorneys, you need to provide truthful, straightforward answers. You do not need to exaggerate the details of the accident unless you are asked specifically about a certain detail. For example, if you hurt your back and the injury has impacted your ability to walk a long distance, and the attorney asks whether or not you can walk, do not tell the attorneys that you cannot walk if you are able to do so. The truth is you can walk. A better answer to a question concerning your ability to walk would be that you are no longer able to walk the same distance or at the same pace as you could before you were injured. Find a personal injury lawyer near you today.