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what happens after personal injury deposition

One of the biggest stressors associated with filing a personal injury lawsuit is not having a firm grasp of the process.

By better understanding how cases proceed through the system, much of the stress and anxiety of being embroiled in a lawsuit can be reduced.

Read on to learn more about what happens after a deposition. 

What Is a Deposition?

A deposition is a recorded interview conducted during the discovery phase of a personal injury trial.

During a deposition for a personal injury case, one or both sides prepare a list of questions to ask the witness.

An attorney will ask the witness questions while a court reporter takes down both the questions and the answers.

And while your attorney will be at your side throughout the deposition, it is still wise to prepare for the questions that may be asked.

What Comes After a Deposition?

what happens after personal injury deposition

What happens after deposition in a personal injury case depends on how the deposition went and each side’s willingness to settle.

Once the deposition is complete, each side gets a transcript of the interview to review.

Depending on what the witness said, the information contained in a deposition will inform and guide subsequent settlement discussions.

For example, suppose an accident victim’s deposition is completely in line with the police report and clearly makes a case against the other driver.

In that case, an insurance company may consider offering a pretrial settlement to avoid trial.

However, if an accident victim’s testimony is inconsistent or appears exaggerated, the insurance company may decide to take its chances at trial and forego attempting to settle the case.

Summary Judgment

If a case does not settle, the next stage of the process is summary judgment.

Summary judgment refers to a pretrial motion filed by either party, asking the court to enter judgment in their favor because the facts are clear, and the law favors the moving party.

Many personal injury cases resolve at the summary judgment stage and those that do not often settle shortly afterward.

Trial

If a case does not end in a motion for summary judgment or settlement, it will then go to trial.

The deposition transcripts can be used to impeach witnesses at trial.

For example, if a witness answers a question one way at the deposition and then provides a different answer at trial, the opposing lawyer can bring up this inconsistency.

Minor inconsistencies are expected, as jurors generally understand that no one’s memory is perfect.

But inconsistent testimony regarding a material issue of the case may lead the jury to conclude that the witness is either mistaken or lying.

Either way, it lessens the witness’s credibility and taints their testimony if they contradict themselves regarding a material issue.

The information provided on this page speaks in general terms.

Of course, there are often exceptions that apply in certain situations. For a complete list of all exceptions, please consult the Consolidated Laws of New York.

Attorney Naima is also happy to answer any questions you have about your injuries or ability to pursue a claim against the responsible party.

Did You Suffer Injuries in a New York Accident?

If you or a loved one was recently involved in an accident and are considering a personal injury lawsuit, reach out to the Law Offices of Theodore A. Naima.

Attorney Naima is a respected New York personal injury attorney with more than 25 years of hands-on experience handling a wide range of cases, including car accidents, motorcycle wrecks, truck collisions, slips and falls, and more.

He provides a unique form of client-centered representation designed to secure the best possible outcome for his clients.

To learn more and to schedule a free consultation, call 516-980-3096 today. You can also reach us through our online contact form.

Author Photo

Theodore A. Naima

Theodore A. Naima is the founding partner of the Law Offices of Theodore A. Naima, a Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice Law Firm based in New York. In 2015, Ted was awarded the prestigious AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the company that has long been recognized as setting the gold standard for lawyer ratings, signifying the highest degree of peer recognition and professional excellence.

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