A car accident is never a pleasant experience, but you can at least prepare yourself for the subsequent legalities if you know the kinds of information that you’ll be required to provide in defense of your case. Deposition questions after a car accident are generally classified in three categories: 1) your personal background; 2) facts about the accident; and 3) your injuries and medical treatment. Knowing the types of deposition questions car accident lawyers and insurers often ask can help you to get ready for the deposition in advance and can help to make the process easier than you might expect.
Personal Background
You will be asked to share personal information that will provide insight about your background.
- Questions will include your name, telephone number and place of residence over the past 5-10 years.
- You will need to provide information about your marital status, how many children you have and with whom you live, both now and at the time of the accident.
- You will also be asked about your educational and professional background, including your academic credentials, your current and recent employers and your on-the-job requirements, including physical requirements.
- In addition, you will be expected to answer questions about any criminal convictions, any previous lawsuits that you may have filed and your overall health as it relates to pre-existing and chronic conditions and ongoing medical treatment.
Facts about the Accident
You will be asked to provide general information about the accident, including time, date and location. Questions will also include inquiries about weather and traffic conditions. Specific questions about the accident will most likely include:
- how far apart the two cars were initially;
- how fast your car and the other car were traveling;
- where the collision occurred;
- what parts of the two cars collided;
- if you and the other driver spoke to one another after the accident;
- the resultant vehicular damages; and
- the cost to repair your car.
You will also be asked to present any evidence such as photographs and diagrams that support your claim, as well as to discuss details about the accident report that you may have filed.
Injuries and Medical Treatment
You will be expected to speak about the injuries that you sustained as a result of the accident and how soon after the accident your sought medical treatment. You will be asked about your doctor’s prognosis, if the accident aggravated a pre-exiting condition, if your condition has improved over time and the cost of your treatment. You will also be asked about lost wages, the impact of your injuries your normal day-to-day activities and your loss of other opportunities such a vacations because of the injuries that you incurred.
How to Answer
The key when answering deposition questions after a car accident is to remember both that any information you give must be truthful and that any information you give can later be used to prove fault or in a jury trial for liability. A deposition is a legal proceeding, and you are usually under oath, the same as you would be in a court room.
Getting Help
Before attending any deposition relating to a car accident, you should speak with a qualified lawyer. He can help you to fully understand what types of questions you are likely to be asked, and he can help you prepare your answers. Your attorney can usually attend the deposition with you as well to make sure you aren't asked any unfair questions or misled in any way during the deposition.
