What Questions Does Opposing Counsel Ask in a Truck Accident Deposition?

When you file a truck accident lawsuit, you will be required to attend a deposition. At the deposition, you will be asked many questions that you must answer truthfully. These questions may be about your background, your family, your witnesses, and the accident. Part of our duties as Mississippi truck accident lawyers is to help our clients prepare for these depositions. We know that opposing counsel will use anything they can to try to discredit you and your testimony, which is why preparation is so important.

The following are some of the typical questions you maybe asked during a truck accident deposition:

Questions about your background

• What is your first and last name?
• What city and state were you born in?
• What is your address and telephone number?
• Do you have a college degree? If so, what type of degree is it?

Questions about your family/ living situation

• What is your marital status?
• Do you have any children? If so, how many?
• Do you live with anyone? If so, who?

Questions about your current and past medical history

• Did you already have injuries or medical conditions prior to the truck accident?
• Has a doctor ever diagnosed you with injuries or medical conditions before the accident?
• Have you received medical treatment before the accident? If so, what type of treatments did you receive?
• Have you experienced new injuries and medical conditions since the accident occurred? If so, what kind?

Questions about employment and work history

• What type of work do you do? Where are you employed? How long have you been at that company?
• Have you missed work in the past? If so, why?
• Have you missed work due to the truck accident? If so, how many days?

Questions about your criminal and civil history

• Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
• Have you ever been arrested?
• Have you ever been in a truck accident before? If not, have you been in any other type of motor vehicle accident before?
• Have you ever filed a lawsuit or insurance claim before this one?

Questions related to the truck accident

• Do you wear glasses? If so, were you wearing them the day of the accident?
• What were the weather conditions at the time of the truck accident?
• Did you have any alcohol or take any drugs/ prescriptions before the accident happened?
• Where were you going when the accident occurred?
• What road did the accident happen on?
• What speed were you driving?
• Did you speak to the truck driver after the accident? If so, what was the conversation?
• What happened to your body during the truck accident?
• How soon after the accident did you get medical treatment?
• How much are your medical bills so far due to the accident?
• How have your injuries and medical conditions affected your life/ relationships?

How do you answer tricky deposition questions?

Sometimes, the opposing counsel will ask “tricky” deposition questions to throw you off guard. When this happens, you can and should ask for clarification. Once the other lawyer clarifies the question, then simply answer the question with the truth. However, if you do not understand the question, you do not know the answer, or you do not recall the information they are asking you about, make sure you say that. Do not make any guesses and do not ask the opposing counsel if they mean this or that. Answer the question directly to the best of your ability if you can. Remember: we’ll be by your side during the deposition, so you don’t have to face it alone.

Who asks questions in the deposition?

During a truck accident deposition, the plaintiff is usually asked questions by the defendant’s attorney. Therefore, you may be asked questions by the truck driver’s or trucking company’s lawyer. Sometimes, your own lawyer will follow up with a few questions. However, it is important to know that every question and answer given in the deposition will be recorded or transcribed by a court reporter and possibly used in trial later on.

What is the average length of a deposition in Mississippi?

Plaintiffs in a lawsuit should expect to spend about two to three hours in a deposition, and witnesses should expect to spend around one hour in a deposition. However, it is not unusual for depositions to go over these timeframes and take several hours. Therefore, if you are requesting time off work or away from class, you want to ensure that you have adequate time to attend and be fully present for the deposition. The last thing you want is to feel rushed and pressed for time as these sessions require a clear mind and careful thinking.

Have you recently been involved in a truck accident? If so, the Mississippi truck accident attorneys at Merkel & Cocke, PA are here to help you. You can count on us to help you become aware of what to expect and how to get ready for this important session. Please fill out our contact form or call our office to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation at one of our office locations in Jackson, Clarksdale, Greenville, or Oxford today.