April 14, 2021
Will I Have To Testify in Court?
By Jonathan Damashek
Posted in
If you are involved in a personal injury case, you may wonder if you will have to testify in court. The answer is that it’s not likely. Read below to learn more.
If you have questions about your civil case, contact the NYC personal injury lawyers at Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. at (212) 490-5700 or use our online contact form.
Will My Case Go To Court?
Most personal injury cases settle. In fact, according to Nolo.com, only 4% of personal injury claims go to trial. Others either settle or are not successful at all.
You have a better chance of getting a settlement or going to trial when you work with an attorney. Insurance companies often take advantage of claimants who were injured and try to manage their own claims.
If My Case Goes To Court, Will I Have To Testify?
You may have to testify if your case goes to court. Your answers will hold significant weight when presenting your case to a jury.
When you testify in court, you will answer questions from your own attorney and the attorney representing the defendant, or insurance company and at-fault driver. This might seem intimidating. However, your lawyer will be able to anticipate questions that the defense attorney will ask you.
If you testify, your attorney will make sure you are prepared for any questions that are presented to you. You will meet with your lawyer on multiple occasions and practice speaking in front of a judge and jury.
Some common questions you might hear during testimony include:
- What happened during the accident?
- What were you doing immediately before the incident?
- Where were you coming from and/or going to?
- Who were you with?
- Were you talking on the phone or texting?
- How were you injured in the accident?
- What steps did you take after the accident?
- What kind of medical treatment did you get?
How Will I Tell My Story if I Don’t Testify?
Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. will make sure your story is heard. We know it’s essential that you can tell people what happened to you. The person who is at fault should be held accountable.
When you sit down with our NYC personal injury lawyers, we will immediately get information about what happened to you. We will also learn about you and who you are. We want to know everything about you and how the accident has impacted your life.
We will present the relevant parts of your story to the insurance company. We will use it to prove to them that their insured has caused drastic changes to your life. You may no longer be able to work or care for yourself as you did before the accident. The insurance company needs to hear about this part of your story.
This can be completed through a demand letter and negotiations detailing your injuries. It may also take place during a deposition.
A deposition is a sit-down meeting between all parties where you have a chance to tell your story outside of court. Your statements will be recorded and written down. This information will be included in your claim file and used as evidence in your case.
Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. Will Make Sure Your Story Is Heard
You may not have to testify in court. You likely don’t want to. However, it’s still essential that all parties hear your story. Our attorneys will make sure your information is used to support your claim.
Call us today at (212) 490-5700 or use our online contact form to reach out.