Learn How To Prepare For A Medical Malpractice Deposition
Filing a medical malpractice claim is a process that is completed throughout several steps. One of these steps is deposition. During the deposition, you will have your first opportunity to give a detailed account of your injuries and what happened while being under oath. Although the deposition can feel informal, it is a very serious matter that you should plan and prepare for.
Understand the Legal Ramifications
Again, a deposition is very important, and you must understand this before you give your statement. In the same manner that everything an individual says and does can be used against them at the time of their arrest, everything you say will sadly be used against you, if possible. For this reason, you must be mindful of what you say so that you do not hurt your case.
Review Your Medical Records
It is always a good idea to sit down and look over your medical records. If you have had extensive injuries as a result of medical malpractice, this step is particularly important. You can all but guarantee that the attorney team who will be asking you questions during the deposition has reviewed your records in detail, and will ask you questions based on these records. The more you know, the more prepared you will be.
Stay in the Loop with Your Attorney
One of the most important things for you to do is to stay in contact with your attorney. Commonly, before the deposition, the attorney will sit down with their client to conduct somewhat of a mock deposition, in which they will ask questions similar to those the other party's attorney will ask. During this session, you and your attorney will also likely review your medical records, so be sure to attend this meeting.
Prepare to Look the Part
You should also make it a point to look the part. It is best to wear business casual clothing that is comfortable, for two reasons. First, the more professional you look, the more you show the attorney team that you are serious. Second, it is not unheard of for a deposition to take hours, so you want to be comfortable. Believe it or not, constant clothing adjustments or fidgeting can be perceived as nervousness, which the attorney may try to use against you.
The idea of a deposition might feel overwhelming, but you can rest assured that if you partner with an attorney, they will be there to help. Ensure you have someone on your side who can help guide you. Keep these tips in mind when looking for a civil litigation attorney.