Nick Johnson is lead counsel and founding partner of Johnson Law Group. Johnson represents plaintiffs injured in auto accidents, truck accidents and vehicle rollovers. Call 1-888-311-5522 or http://www.topautoaccidentattorneys.com or http://www.toprolloveraccidentattorneys.com
Upon filing an auto accident lawsuit, depositions will need to be taken by your lawyer and the opposing lawyer. Deposition is really just a big word for telling your side of the story. The lawyer will ask everyone involved to explain what happened, and then ask a few questions to provide clarity. The opposing side's attorney will do the same. It is completely inadvisable to ever tell even the smallest lie during a deposition.
Your auto accident lawyer will explain the process before it begins. Your lawyer will also explain the importance of being completely honest during a deposition. If you do not completely understand a question that either your lawyer or the opposing side's attorney has asked, then it is your responsibility to ask for clarification. If you believe that you understand a question that your lawyer or the opposing side's attorney has asked but feel it can be interpreted in more than one way, clarify by repeating the question in your own words.
Once you and your lawyer get through with the process of depositions, it will be a little more clear to your auto accident lawyer where things stand from a legal perspective, how the defense is going to present their case, and whether or not there are any additional questions your lawyer is going to need you to answer. Your auto accident lawyer can advise you in the next step of filing your lawsuit. Listening to your lawyer is pertinent. If he or she asks you to provide them with some documentation, you are hurting your own case and making it more difficult for your lawyer to represent you if you don't.
The opposition may bring up issues that you were not expecting during your deposition or during a hearing or trial. This is not entirely uncommon, although for the most part what we see on television is not an accurate depiction. Relevance is a key factor, and before you answer any question that you were not expecting, give your lawyer a moment to either object, or present in your defense that the question is irrelevant. If your auto accident lawyer does not make an objection then you simply answer the question, honestly. People make their fair share of mistakes in life, and mistakes that happened years ago do not necessarily mean that your claim is not valid.
However, it is important that you are honest with your auto accident lawyer about your relevant history. If you have ever been pulled over for driving while intoxicated or have had numerous accidents in your driving history, it's better to tell your auto accident lawyer these things than allow this information to be a surprise during a deposition. Lying to your lawyer is never a good idea, even if you believe the lie is tiny and inconsequential.
The deposition process will give you a chance to see how your lawyer operates and to evaluate him or her as a representative of your rights. Some lawyers are fabulous in the office but crumble under the pressure of a deposition. While you will not be a witness to the entire deposition process, it will allow you to see your lawyer in action before ever entering the court room. If you find yourself questioning your auto accident lawyer's abilities, then it is time to immediately find a new lawyer. Hopefully you would have been able to make this decision prior to the deposition process, but it is never a good idea to hang onto an auto accident lawyer when you do not feel they are competent enough to handle your auto accident case.
Once you have passed the deposition process, you may find the opposing side is willing to discuss a settlement. While it is always best to make decisions based on what's best for you and your family and what you're comfortable with, listen to the advice of your auto accident lawyer carefully. Ask them why they feel as they do in regards to your potential settlement. A high quality auto accident lawyer has had ample experience and can offer you advice as they see things from a removed emotional state. A high quality lawyer will be able to give you a basic idea of whether you are being offered a good settlement, or one that isn't fair and compensatory. A good lawyer will help you through every step of the process.
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