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The Basics Of A Wrongful Death Deposition

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If you have recently lost someone close to you as the result of an accident that wasn't their fault, you may be pursuing a wrongful death claim against the responsible party. Wrongful death is a legal way to hold someone responsible for a death that they caused by their own negligence. One thing you can expect as part of the process is to complete a deposition. Here's a look at what you need to know about your upcoming wrongful death claim deposition.

Understand The Purpose Of The Deposition

In most cases, a deposition is scheduled for a couple of reasons. First, it gives your lawyer an opportunity to fully understand what you will say on the stand and how you will handle the questioning process. Further, it provides the other party's attorney with a clear picture of the information you plan to share in court so that they can not only question you further but also research the information for accuracy and proof.

The deposition provides both lawyers with a chance to evaluate the merits of the case more thoroughly, including assessing how you will be perceived by the courts based on how you conduct yourself under the interrogation of the deposition.

This is important in a wrongful death case because the lawsuit will be your word against the other party. Especially when it comes to proving the emotional and financial loss, you'll need to be able to present the information properly on the stand so your lawyer will want to see that you can do that.

Be Properly Prepared For The Deposition

There's a good chance that your attorney will take time to help you prepare for your deposition, but that doesn't mean that there aren't things you can do along the way as well. The better prepared you are the day of the deposition, the less chance there is that something can rattle you and lead you to misspeak or make a mistake.

The biggest thing to remember when you're facing a deposition in your wrongful death suit is that you need to listen carefully to every question. Especially when you are still in the grieving process of a loss, this can be more challenging than you might think. Make sure that you understand the question and ask for clarification if needed.

Once you're certain that you understand the question, provide only enough information to answer that specific question. Don't volunteer any other information, especially about the deceased who cannot defend their own actions or provide further explanation. Reach out to a wrongful death attorney to learn more. 


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