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All About Depositions in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Seth Harris

Last modified on March 19, 2023

Depositions are a crucial part of the discovery process in any personal injury lawsuit. During a deposition, the involved parties are questioned under oath by the opposing party’s attorney. This blog post will provide an overview of what a deposition is. You’ll also learn what to expect during a deposition and how depositions can impact a personal injury case.

What is a Deposition?

DepositionA deposition is a legal proceeding outside of the courtroom where witnesses or parties involved in a lawsuit provide sworn testimony. Their purpose is to gather evidence and information that can be used during the trial or settlement negotiations. Depositions are typically conducted in a lawyer’s office or a conference room. A court reporter will record the testimony.

It is important to note that deposition testimony is different from trial testimony. In a trial, attorneys question witnesses before a judge and jury. Their testimony is subject to cross-examination by both parties’ attorneys. In a deposition, the witness is likewise under oath. But only their counsel, the opposing attorney, and a court reporter are otherwise present.

What Happens at a Deposition?

During a deposition, the opposing party’s attorney will ask questions to the witness or party being deposed. The questions can cover a wide range of topics related to the case, including the underlying facts, the witness’s personal history, and any relevant documents or evidence.

To prepare for a deposition, you and your attorney should review all relevant documents and evidence related to the case. These documents can include medical records, police reports, and witness statements. Additionally, practicing your answers to likely questions can help you feel more confident during the deposition.

A court reporter will be present to record the questions and answers. This is important because the testimony can be used as evidence during the trial or settlement negotiations.

How Depositions Affect a Personal Injury Case

Depositions are crucial in gathering evidence and information in a personal injury case. The testimony obtained during a deposition can strengthen or weaken a case and play a significant role in settlement negotiations or at trial.

During a deposition, your attorney can ask the defendant questions designed to uncover new information or clarify facts related to the case. This can help them solidify the defendant’s fault and strengthen your compensation case.

Attorneys can use the testimony they obtain during depositions in several ways. First, they can use it to support or challenge the arguments made by both parties during settlement negotiations. For example, if a witness provides testimony that supports your version of events, your attorney may use that information to negotiate a better settlement offer on your behalf. Alternatively, if a defendant says something that undermines their credibility, your lawyer can use that to weaken their case and show that their other testimony is suspect.

Deposition testimony can also be read into the court record at trial if the witness cannot testify in person. This can help your attorney build a more robust case on your behalf.

Examples of Depositions in Action

All About Depositions in a Personal Injury LawsuitHere are a few examples of how depositions can impact a personal injury case:

In a car accident case, a deposition of a witness who saw the accident may reveal new information about how fast the vehicles were going or what they did just before the collision. This testimony could help strengthen the injured party’s case or challenge the testimony of the opposing party’s witnesses.
In a slip and fall case, a deposition of the property owner or manager may reveal that they were aware of a hazardous condition but failed to take steps to correct it. Such testimony would demonstrate the property owner’s negligence and support the injured party’s claim for damages.
In a medical malpractice case, a deposition of the defendant doctor may reveal that their treatment of the plaintiff did not conform to the accepted standards of care. The attorney could use that testimony to demonstrate the doctor’s negligence and support the plaintiff’s claim for damages.

Talk to a New York Personal Injury Lawyer Today

At Harris Keenan & Goldfarb, we aim to get injured New Yorkers like you the maximum money possible from the people who hurt them. We’ve been so successful in that mission that we’ve recovered $500 million in settlements and verdicts to date. Find out what we can do when you contact us for a consultation with a New York personal injury lawyer.

Over $500 Million in Verdicts and Settlements

Our track record showcases over $500 million won for our clients. Each victory underlines our commitment to justice and client care. Explore our impact, case by case.

VERDICT

$17,500,000

A Brooklyn jury awarded Mr. Vargas $17.5 million for the City of New York’s violation of his civil rights for failing to provide him medical care while in custody. The jury found that the police officers involved failed to provide the necessary medical treatment and awarded $17.5 million to Mr. Vargas.

VERDICT

$4,730,398

Harris Keenan & Goldfarb partners Seth Harris and Sheri Holland obtained a $4,730,398.00 jury verdict on behalf of our client who tripped and fell at a private apartment building in the Bronx, suffering a broken foot that developed a very painful, permanent neurological condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (“RSD”).

VERDICT

$12,561,772

A Bronx jury awarded John Doe over $12 million for an accident on a construction site. John Doe was working when a piece of scaffold weighing 35 pounds fell, striking John Doe in the lower back. John Doe suffered a herniated disc requiring surgical removal of a portion of the disc and permanent nerve damage.

VERDICT

$10,500,000

A Bronx jury awarded $10.5 million to the mother of Malcolm Ferguson, who was wrongfully shot and killed by the New York City Police Department. The police officer, Louis Rivera, also a defendant in the case, was found to have used excessive force in violation of Malcolm Ferguson’s civil rights as protected under the United States Constitution.

VERDICT

$4,000,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff William Cardoza $4 million for injuries caused by the use of excessive force during an arrest. During the arrest, Mr. Cardoza was pepper-sprayed and repeatedly hit with a police nightstick. As a result, Mr. Cardoza sustained injuries to his hand and finger.

VERDICT

$3,470,670

The firm’s client, a 33-year-old teacher’s assistant, was scalded by an espresso machine that exploded while the defendant’s employee was demonstrating how the machine worked. The client was a customer at the defendant’s coffee shop on the date of the accident and suffered first-degree burns to her right (dominant) hand.

VERDICT

$4,000,000

The firm represented the mother- decedent and her infant son. During the decedent’s admission to the defendant hospital, the defendant dispensed anesthesia during an epidural to the decedent in an inadequate manner. The mother-decedent suffered personal injuries and wrongful death due to the defendant’s failure to properly administer epidural anesthesia.

VERDICT

$3,823,000

Mr.Brennan fell from approximately 25 feet while working on a construction project. He suffered a shattered bone in his right leg requiring surgery and hardware placement. Mr. Brennan also suffered two fractures in his facial bones, and a dislocated finger requiring surgical repair.

VERDICT

$2,750,000

The firm’s client was a child with cerebral palsy who was injured as a result of medical malpractice. The firm’s clients claimed improper management of pregnancy, labor, and delivery resulting in brain damage, and received a Brooklyn personal injury settlement.

VERDICT

$1,677,835

The firm’s client, a 63-year-old mentally incompetent man, slipped and fell in his own urine while attempting to walk to the bathroom at the defendant’s senior citizen home. The client fractured his hip and as a result is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The client claimed that the staff of the home failed to properly care for him, and the jury awarded $1,677,835.

VERDICT

$2,995,000

The firm’s client, a 47-year-old male, slipped and fell on a public sidewalk in the Bronx. It had snowed four to five days prior to the date of the accident, and the sidewalk was covered with ice. The client suffered a lumbar fracture and a herniated disc. The jury found the city liable and awarded the client a $2,995,000 personal injury settlement in the Bronx.

VERDICT

$2,610,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff Luis Molina $2.61 million for injuries sustained when he fell down a subway station stairway. Mr. Molina was caused to slip and fall as a result of a plastic bag that had blown onto the steps from a street opening. As a result of the fall, Mr. Molina suffered a herniated disc and a tear of his right shoulder’s rotator cuff. The jury found that the NYC Transit Authority was liable for the accident.

VERDICT

$2,253,714

A Bronx jury awarded Ms. Colon $2.25 million for a trip and fall accident. Ms. Colon was caused to fall when she moved to the right to allow another pedestrian to pass, and her foot rolled to the outside due to the sidewalk being unlevel with the adjoining grass. The jury found the defendant liable and awarded Ms. Colon $2,253,714.00 for her pain and suffering.

VERDICT

$1,900,000

A Brooklyn jury awarded Arvella Floyd $1.9 million for a fractured wrist which required multiple surgeries, including an open-reduction internal fixation and a carpal tunnel release. Ms. Floyd was injured when the hot water knob of the shower fell off after numerous complaints to the superintendent, and scalding water spewed toward her, causing her to
fall and break her wrist.

VERDICT

$1,350,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff Juanita Young $1,350,000 for injuries caused by the use of excessive force during an arrest. During the arrest, Ms. Young, who is legally blind, was handcuffed from behind, with her children watching, and taken to the top of the stairs to exit the building. The officer proceeded to push her down the stairs multiple times.

What Our Clients Say About Us

david Santiagodavid Santiago
18:05 21 Mar 24
Maria RoqueMaria Roque
20:49 15 Mar 24
Excellent person, very Professional, they assist you in any language, your call is always answered. I recommend you for any case of support you have, your refund is satisfactory. and fast
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14:09 02 Mar 24
I am completely satisfied, and recommend Harris Keenan & Goldfarb as Attorneys to represent anyone. Their care for me physically, and overall helped me stay strong in spite of my injuries. Always available to answer questions, and inform.They got me Justice, and achieved a substantial outcome for my case.I am very impressed, and thankful for their outstanding performance on my behalf.I am very pleased, and significantly satisfied with their representation.‐-Sherylon Wilkins
Robert LennonRobert Lennon
15:26 21 Feb 24
Patient and diligence is how I describe the effort of HKG the work was thorough, honest and fair, I have no complaints. Special thanks to attorney Blake and his paralegal Thierry.
Gene Matos (fanboye)Gene Matos (fanboye)
18:48 15 Jan 24
I first crossed paths with Seth Harris when serving jury duty many years ago. He was so professional and personable, that when my mom was seeking legal counsel for medical malpractice, I told her she had to reach out to his firm. We had meetings with a few different firms, but Harris Keenan & Goldfarb was the only firm that did not try to get us to sign paperwork before even meeting. They took the time to listen and understand our situation before we signed anything, and they were transparent and responsive the whole time. I would like to give special thanks to Samantha Walton, Marla Stein, Val Wallace and Seth Harris for helping my mom through this tough time. They were honest and upfront, and even though Seth Harris wasn't personally on the case, he took the time to meet with us and give us his thoughts on it.
Solange IsaacSolange Isaac
17:52 08 Jan 24
I am pleased with the services provided by Ms Sheri on my case. The team at Harris, Keenan, & Goldfarb were very nice and explained everything to me. Everything that I had questions on they answered without frustration and were prompt and knowledgeable.6 years ago I had a slip and fall accident at my employers place of business. I reached out to them because I knew that I was being wrongfully treated. They took care of the case, restored my self confidence, and brought so much peace to my problem riddled life.I can recommend without a shadow of a doubt the services of Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb to anyone who is in need of someone who will have your back!
Brittany DempseyBrittany Dempsey
16:02 08 Jan 24
My mother had an accident with her ankle back in 2019. I immediately contacted Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb on the day of the accident. They were extremely prompt and helpful. They attended to my mother's case beautifully and she's been recovering well. I'd like to thank you for being so diligent, kind and above all professional. I'd recommend this law firm to anyone who are injured and in need of legal assistance. My mother, Andrea, and I thank you for everything.
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