In the course of a personal injury case, the plaintiff and witnesses may be asked to give sworn testimony for use as evidence or as discovery (the process where each side gathers information to create a case). This is called a deposition. During a deposition, one is under oath, just as if he/she were in a courtroom, and the testimony is recorded, usually by a court reporter who prepares a transcript of the deposition, but sometimes by video.
Plaintiffs should keep in mind that a deposition is asked to build the defense’s case. They will not ask questions or try to gather information that would hurt their case. For this reason, it is very important to just give brief answers and to always consult with your attorney before giving a deposition. They can teach you how to word answers so they can’t be used against you.
After the transcript or video is prepared, all parties are given the testimony to review. An attorney should be able to tell whether a witness will be helpful or harmful to a personal injury case and will plan your case accordingly. In addition to pretrial discovery, depositions may be used in court as evidence and may be available as part of the public court record after a trial ends.
If you need help filing a claim, or if your workers’ compensation claim has been denied, call a qualified lawyer to discuss your case.
Vaughan Law Group – Attorneys at Law – Orlando, FL
Thomas Vaughan has been recognized as one of the nation’s top 100 injured workers’ attorneys by WILG (Workers’ Injury Law and Advocacy Group). He has also been recognized as one of the top lawyers in Florida by The Legal Network and one of Orlando’s top lawyers by Orlando Home & Leisure.
