Depositions play a critical role in personal injury cases. They are part of the discovery process, where both sides gather evidence to prepare for trial or settlement. During a deposition, witnesses and parties are questioned under oath, and their testimony is recorded in a written transcript.

For many personal injury cases in California, depositions provide the evidence needed to negotiate a fair settlement sometimes even avoiding the need for a trial altogether.

What Is a Deposition in a Personal Injury Case?

A deposition is a formal question-and-answer session where a witness provides testimony under oath outside the courtroom. Depositions can involve:

• Police officers who responded to the accident
• Medical experts who treated or evaluated the injuries
• Eyewitnesses who saw the accident occur
• Clerks or officials who handled relevant documents
• Family members or friends with important knowledge of the case

Witnesses can be compelled to appear through a subpoena. If a witness believes the subpoena is unfair for example, requiring unreasonable travel or issued with too little notice they may ask the court to modify or dismiss it.

Why Are Depositions Important?

Depositions are used for several key reasons in personal injury cases:

• To obtain eyewitness testimony from individuals who may not cooperate voluntarily
• To preview testimony before the witness appears in court
• To gather expert opinions from accident reconstructionists, doctors, or other specialists
• To evaluate the strength of the other side’s case and credibility of witnesses

Most depositions take place in an attorney’s office or at a court reporter’s office, but they may also occur at another court-approved location. Both attorneys may ask questions, and all responses are documented in the official transcript.

How to Handle a Deposition

If you’re called to give a deposition in your personal injury case, preparation is key. Here’s what to expect:

• Expect challenging questions: The opposing attorney may try to shift blame to you.
• Keep your answers short and factual: Avoid volunteering extra information.
• Know when you can refuse to answer:
  • If the question requires revealing confidential communications (such as with a doctor, spouse, or clergy)
  • If answering could incriminate you under the Fifth Amendment
  • If the question is asked in bad faith to harass or intimidate you

If there’s a dispute over whether a question must be answered, your attorney can request the court’s intervention. While the process can be stressful, a skilled lawyer ensures your rights are protected.

How Depositions Influence Settlements

Depositions often shape the outcome of settlement negotiations. After depositions, both sides typically have a clearer picture of:

• The credibility of witnesses
• The strength of the available evidence
• The likelihood of success at trial

If depositions show you have strong testimony and expert support, the opposing party may be more inclined to offer a fair settlement rather than risk losing in court.

In fact, many personal injury cases settle during or shortly after the deposition phase because both sides gain insight into the relative strengths and weaknesses of the case.

Why You Need an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

Depositions can make or break your case. An experienced personal injury lawyer will:

• Prepare you and your witnesses for questioning
• Protect you from unfair or improper questions
• Use deposition testimony to strengthen your bargaining position
• Leverage the information gathered to negotiate a fair settlement
• Present deposition evidence effectively if the case goes to trial

At Hillstone Law, our attorneys have extensive experience using depositions strategically to secure favorable results for our clients.

Contact Hillstone Law Today

If you’ve been injured in California, don’t face a deposition or insurance negotiations alone. Contact Hillstone Law today for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys will guide you through every step of the process and fight to secure the settlement you deserve.