If you need to use workers' compensation due to an injury that happened at the workplace, you may be requested to give a deposition by the insurance provider investigating your case. This is when you're asked questions about your injury so that they are put on record, and will be investigated further as part of your case. A deposition is nothing to be worried about, and these tips should help you get through it.
Prepare For The Deposition
You'll want to do a fair amount of prep work before the deposition so that everything is ready. The main things you want to have ready are your medical records since it can take a while to obtain them all. This includes recent evaluations from your doctor as well as any medical history of yours that is relevant to your claim.
For example, if you further aggravated an existing injury, you can guarantee that the investigative team will want to know more about the state of that injury prior to your workplace accident. You should give these documents to your lawyer prior to the deposition. They can help make copies and distribute them to the investigative team prior to your deposition.
Listen Carefully To All Questions
A big mistake that people make in a deposition is nose listening as carefully as they can to the questions being asked of them. You should only be answering what's being asked of you and not volunteering additional information. It is up to the investigative team to ask the questions that they want answers to. If they want more information on a specific answer, they will ask for you to clarify your original response.
Be Honest In Your Response
Keep in mind that all statements you make during a deposition are under oath. That's why you should be honest in all your responses. There are legal consequences to lying under oath. It is very important that you work out all of the details of your story and give the same story throughout your deposition.
If you are uncertain of an answer, do not say something that may be incorrect. You should say that you do not recall and not provide an answer to a question. You don't want to get in a situation where you are giving inconsistent answers because you cannot honestly recall the correct answer.
Work with a workers' compensation lawyer for help with preparing for your deposition.
