Tips For Handling Your Workers’ Compensation Deposition

If you suffered a work injury and are filing for workers’ compensation, there’s a possibility that your company’s insurance provider will ask you to complete a deposition prior to approving your claim. The deposition helps them learn more about your injuries and the circumstances surrounding it, and you should have nothing to fear about the deposition so long as you are truthful. That said, you do want to prepare for it as best you can so that the deposition helps keep your claim moving in the right direction. In today’s blog, we share some tips for knocking your workers’ compensation deposition out of the park.

How To Ace Your Injury Deposition

Below, you’ll find a slew of helpful tips for thriving throughout your workers’ compensation deposition.

Talk To A Lawyer Beforehand – If you are moving forward with a compensation claim and you’re hoping to maximize your award, you’re probably already working with a lawyer, and they can prep you for the deposition. If you don’t have a lawyer, schedule an appointment with one prior to your deposition, because they’ll help explain what to expect and how to avoid problems with the deposition.

Bring All Important And Relevant Documents – Bring any document that could be helpful to the deposition. Whether that’s your First Report of Injury, your medical report or just the contact information of your lawyer, if it pertains to your injury case, bring it to the deposition. You might not need it, but if you do, you’ll be glad you have it.

Be Honest To Your Lawyer – Your lawyer is going to help you prepare for the types of questions the other side will be asking. Be completely honest with your lawyer, and they can give feedback on how to phrase certain aspects of your claim. Don’t lie to your lawyer, because then they won’t be able to help you prepare for some of the questions you’ll receive, and if you’re caught in a lie during your deposition, your claim may be denied.

Simpler Is Better – Never use more words when a few will do. Answer the questions being asked, but don’t overshare information that doesn’t help your case. Focus on the questions being asked, and answer them as succinctly as possible. If the other side wants more information, they can ask more questions, but don’t overshare when you’re asked basic questions.

Never Guess – If you aren’t sure about an answer, let the other side know. Say you’re not sure, that you can find that information or that you’re just not clear on the specifics. If you guess and you are wrong, it can hurt the credibility of your claim. Even if it’s something as simple as getting the time of the accident wrong, never guess about specific details unless you’re sure.

Expect It To Run Long – Don’t plan a bunch of other things on the day of the deposition. They may say that it will only take a half hour, but these things tend to run long, and your deposition can easily take hours depending on the specifics of your injury. Expect it to take a while and plan for that so that you can give your full attention to the questions and not feel rushed.

Depositions aren’t all that difficult, but you do want to protect your interests and avoid some potential pitfalls. If you keep these tips in mind and you work with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer like Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm, we’re confident you’ll do great at your deposition. For more information, or for help with your injury claim, reach out to Dean’s team today at (952) 230-2700.