Will I Be Required To Give A Deposition In My Fresno Car Accident Case?
Are you out of work because you suffered injuries in a Fresno car accident? Do you have medical bills pilling up because a reckless or negligent driver caused a Fresno car accident that injured you? Is the pain and limitations from your physical injuries preventing you from returning to your regular daily activities? If so, California personal injury laws provide a way for you to receive compensation from the driver who caused your Fresno car accident. Unfortunately, receiving the compensation you are entitled to receive by law is not always a smooth process.
If you have been injured in an accident, call our Fresno car accident attorneys for a free case evaluation. We can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries, losses, and damages.
Filing a Car Accident Claim in California
When you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, the insurance company for the other driver is responsible for paying your damages up to the policy limits of insurance policy. It seems this would be a straightforward process. You file a car accident claim and the insurance company pays you for your losses and damages. It does not always work this way.
Insurance companies want to make money and paying accident claims interferes with that goal. Therefore, insurance companies do everything possible to avoid paying accident claims including delaying and denying valid Fresno car accident claims. When an insurance company refuses to negotiate in a fair manner, your personal injury attorney will advise that you file a car accident lawsuit. A legal action may be necessary to force the insurance company to negotiate a fair and full settlement. If not, a jury needs to hear your story so that it can hold the other driver responsible for your injuries to force the insurance company to pay your damages.
What is a Deposition?
As part of a car accident lawsuit, the insurance company may want you to answers questions about the car accident and your injuries under oath before the trial. This is referred to as a deposition. You cannot refuse to answer questions in a deposition and your answers must be truthful. The testimony given in a deposition can be used against you if you change your testimony at trial. Therefore, it is important that you always tell the truth when answering questions in a deposition.
Your attorney will prepare you for the deposition by giving you instructions and guidance before the deposition. The attorney cannot answer questions for you or guide you during the deposition but your attorney will be present to ensure the attorney for the other side does not do anything illegal during the deposition.
Tips for testifying at a deposition include:
- Allow the attorney to finishing asking the question before you begin your answer. Never assume you know what information the attorney is asking for until he completes his question.
- If you do not understand the question, ask the attorney to rephrase the question or provide clarification.
- If you need a break, tell you attorney.
- Remember to answer all questions with a verbal response. A court reporter is recording your testimony; however, the court reporter will not “guess” if you mean yes or no by a physical motion such as a hand gesture or head movement.
- Never guess at an answer. If you do not know the answer, say that you do not know the answer.
- Speak clearly and speak up so that the court reporter can hear your responses.
Call an Experienced Fresno, CA Cara Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a Fresno car accident, call Torem & Associates at (888) 500-5000 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
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