A workers' compensation deposition may be called for if you have a permanent workplace injury. This meeting is important and the outcome could affect your ability to get benefits. A permanent work-related injury can call for a lump sum settlement, rehabilitation, job training, and more. Read on to find out how to handle your workers' comp deposition.
How to Respond to Deposition Questioning
A deposition is actually just a question and answer session about your injury and your resulting medical treatment. You can achieve a great deal of success by knowing how to best respond to questions. Follow these tips:
1. Don't be rushed – It helps to relax and take your time when answering questions. The attorney asking the question should be allowed to finish speaking before you answer. Otherwise, you might wrongly interpret the true meaning of the question. Taking things slow also has the benefit of allowing your workers' comp attorney time to bring an objection to inappropriate questions. Make it a point to maintain eye contact with your attorney during the questioning. It will help you be more confident and may help ward off mistakes.
2. Be accurate – The information you provide during a deposition could make or break your case so it makes sense to keep to the facts you know. Don't guess at answers and never be led to speculate about anything. If you don't know the answer to a question, say so and keep silent. If you don't fully understand what is being asked of you, ask for clarification.
3. Be verbal in your answers – Head nods and shakes are not proper responses to questions. Speak up and answer without using gestures. Your answers are being recorded using your verbal responses so speak in a clear and moderate voice. For example, if you are asked to explain the location of an injury on your body, say "my left shoulder" instead of just pointing to it.
4. Be brief and concise – Open-ended questions tend to be designed to prompt wandering and unfocused answers. The workers' comp insurance legal representative might ask you to explain something using an open-ended question. If so, be sure to stick to answering the question using as few words as possible.
5. Stay cool and confident – You should project friendliness without nerves. If you are well-prepared to answer questions, you will be less stressed and more competent when questioned. Review your past claim forms, correspondence, documents, medical records and consult with your attorney so that you will be prepared to make your deposition a success.
Contact a worker's compensation attorney for more help.
Share15 January 2019
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