The deposition is an element of the personal injury process that you might have to go through if your family is filing a claim on behalf of a loved one. Your attorney may decide to depose staff members who work at the nursing home where abuse or an accident occurred. Alternatively, the other party may decide to depose you or your loved one. You can learn more about depositions in this section.
What is a Deposition?
First, you are probably wondering what a deposition is. A deposition is a sworn testimony that a person gives out of court about the incident in question. In a motor vehicle accident, those deposed are asked to speak about the accident. In a nursing home neglect and abuse claim, those deposed might be asked to talk about their life in the nursing home, nursing home duties, the event in question, etc.
Remember that depositions are statements given under oath. This means that anyone deposed cannot lie. An attorney should also be present during the deposition to make sure that the questions that are being asked are fair. You can learn more about depositions on our depositions page!
Deposing Parties and Being Deposed
If your family wants to depose other parties involved in the case, an attorney can help your family decide who to depose, what questions to ask, and how to handle the deposition. All of this strategy is useful in creating the strongest case possible for your loved one. Ideally, you want to use the testimony of others to your advantage in settlement negotiations or in court if your case gets that far.
If you or a loved one is deposed in relation to a personal injury case, this can be overwhelming and scary. You won’t be sure of what the other party will ask you, and you don’t want to make any mistakes. If you or a loved one is deposed, relax. Here are some common questions that you can expect in a deposition. Just make sure that you have a lawyer present, and the deposition should run smoothly.
On this page, you can find tips on deposing the defendant in order to build your case. Remember that you and your loved one will not be present during the deposition of the defendant. Your lawyer will appear on your behalf and ask questions for you. You can consult with your attorney to determine if deposing the abuser or the defendant in the case is a good idea given your situation.
Check out the individual pages in this section to learn more about depositions. If you still have questions, we are happy to help. Simply call our office and we can discuss your situation with you. If you have been deposed, contact us and we will make sure that you have representation with you during the deposition. This can protect your interests as well as your rights during this difficult time.
