After being injured in a car accident, pursuing legal action against the liable party may be the best way to hold them accountable for their negligence and recover the compensation they deserve.
As part of the car crash claims process, you may need to be deposed, especially if you need to move forward with a car accident lawsuit. Preparation is key if you hope to protect your car accident settlement and win at trial.
What Are Car Accident Depositions and When Might You Give One?
You may need to give a deposition after being involved in a car accident if your case is going to trial. Here, you will sit down in a legal proceeding where you are sworn in under oath to give testimony about yourself and how the accident occurred. Since you are the one answering questions, you will be referred to as the deponent.
You generally will not need to be deposed if you are negotiating a settlement with the insurance company or working out a settlement agreement outside of court. Depositions are given during the discovery period of the car accident lawsuit claims process according to Georgia Code §9-11-30. This is where both the plaintiff and respondent are gathering information about all involved parties and the details surrounding the car accident.
Get the strong arm
Be Ready to Discuss Questions About Yourself and Your Family
First, be prepared to answer questions about yourself, your history, and your family. Here are some of the top questions you might be asked about your personal history, employment, criminal background, and family:
Questions About Your History
- What is your full name?
- What is your address?
- What is your date of birth?
- Where do you live?/What is your address
- What is your telephone number?
- Have you ever been charged with or convicted of a criminal offense?
- Have you ever filed any type of administrative claim, such as a claim for worker’s compensation benefits?
- Have you ever been involved in a civil lawsuit?
Questions About Your Employment
- Did you go to college?
- Did you graduate college?
- Did you attend a trade school?
- How do you support your family?
- What do you do for a living?
- What do your job responsibilities include?
- Have you ever had to take a significant amount of time off of work? If so, why?
Family and Home Life Questions
- Are you married?
- Are you in a relationship?
- Do you have any children? If so, how many do you have?
- What is your current housing situation?
- Do you have any roommates?
- Who was living with you at the time of your car accident?
Describing How the Collision Occurred
Once questions about your personal life have been asked, it is time to go into how the car accident occurred. You can expect one or more of the following questions or similar variations of these questions:
- Where were you going when the accident happened?
- What was the day and time of day of the accident?
- What was the weather like on the day of the accident?
- What were the traffic conditions at the time of the car accident?
- Describe in your own words how the car accident happened.
- How far away was the car from you when you first saw it?
- How fast were you driving when the car crash happened?
- What parts of the car were hit during the collision?
- Did you consume illegal drugs or alcohol before driving?
The Aftermath of the Car Crash
You will also likely be asked questions regarding the aftermath of your collision, such as:
- What did the driver that hit you say after the accident?
- What did you say to the driver that hit you after the collision?
- Describe the physical damage to all involved vehicles.
- What happened to your car? Did you get it repaired or was it totaled?
- Can you draw a diagram of the car accident scene?
- Were police called to the car crash?
- Did the driver that hit you express guilt or admit fault for causing your collision?
How Has the Car Accident Affected Your Life?
Once you have answered questions regarding how the accident happened in the aftermath of the collision, you will be asked to describe the various ways your car accident and resulting injuries have impacted your life. Some questions you might expect are as follows:
- What injuries did you sustain in the car accident?
- What symptoms or side effects did you experience due to your injuries?
- Were you able to get up and move around after the car accident?
- Do you have any pre-existing conditions?
- What is your current treatment plan?
- What is your healthcare provider’s prognosis regarding your injuries?
- Were there any gaps in your medical treatment? If so, why?
- In total, how much are your medical expenses? Are your medical bills expected to continue to increase over time?
- Will you require continued medical treatment?
- Have your injuries impacted your daily life? If so, how?
- Are you dealing with any emotional struggles from the car accident?
- Have you had to take time off of work due to your car accident?
- How much money have you lost by not working?
- What are some ways your injuries have limited you?
- Do you require help completing daily living activities? If so, which ones?
- How have your car accident injuries affected your relationships with your spouse, children, friends, and family?
- Do you expect your injuries will prevent you from being able to support yourself in the future?
Call in The Strong Arm and Connect with a Dedicated Car Accident Attorney in Georgia Today
When you need to be deposed as part of the car accident claims process in Georgia, being prepared to answer the questions you will be asked is a top priority. You do not want to get tricked into accepting partial blame for the accident or expressing guilt that could reduce your payout.
Our respected and experienced Georgia car accident attorneys at John Foy & Associates can ensure fault is accurately assessed and protect you from being taken advantage of during some of the most difficult times in your life. Call in The Strong Arm today and get ready to make the liable party pay. Call our office or complete our quick contact form to schedule your 100% free consultation today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form