List of Contents
Your Quick Guide to Depositions
If you were injured at work and filed a workers comp claim, you’ll need to sit through a deposition. But what is a deposition? After all, the word has four syllables, so it must be important. Deposition is simply a fancy legal term for an interview, particularly an interview under oath. If you have a lawyer representing you for a workers compensation claim, having a deposition is a very normal part of the process.
Let’s review some of the basics to give you a better idea of what comes next.
Why is it Necessary?
When someone is injured at work, a formal interview takes place that is also known as a Your Quick Guide to Depositions. This is part of a discovery phase that’s necessary to get to the bottom of things. It serves mainly two purposes. For one, it is often the only time the insurance company’s attorney gets to see you in person and talk to you about what happened. This is when they assess your credibility and report back to the insurance company if they think you come across well and that you’re being honest about your injury.
The second reason is to find out where you obtained medical treatment so they can request and review your records. They also want to see if you have been injured anywhere and anytime else to determine if any other injuries could also be contributing to whatever physical issues you are now having.
Common Questions
There are some common questions you can expect to be asked if you were injured at work, but your lawyer should spend ample time with you—often 30 minutes to an hour, preparing you for the deposition. Not only that, but your attorney for workers comp will be sitting next to you the entire time, so hopefully you like your lawyer.
Here are some typical questions you can expect to answer during the interview:
- How did the injury happen?
- Where did you receive medical treatment after you were injured at work?
- Have you ever been hurt on the job before this?
- Where did you work before your current job?
- How much did you make there?
How Long Does it Take?
The thought of having to sit through a deposition can be very stressful and anxiety inducing for some people, especially if you aren’t feeling well, but your attorney for workers comp will be there to guide you through the process.
In general, workers compensation depositions usually take between 1 ½ to 2 hours to complete, so there will be a lot of questions to go over. On the upside, though, after it’s finished you probably won’t need to sit for Your Quick Guide to Depositions unless your case is very complicated, then it might involve a part two, or even a part three! But that isn’t common, and besides, at that point you shouldn’t be as nervous because you will have already been through one!
Schedule a Consultation
Have you been injured at work? Contact the Law Office of Jon Marlowe by calling (925) 302-9176. We’re here to help. You can also request an appointment by filling out this quick contact form—just click here.