Blog

Your personal injury attorney will help prepare you if you need to testify at trial.

Will I Need to Testify at Trial?Like most legal cases, the majority of personal injury cases settle before trial.  There are many reasons why these cases are settled, but for most victims in accident cases, not going to trial is a good thing — going to trial can be an incredibly stressful experience.

One of the most worrisome aspects of going to trial is the possibility of having to testify.  As the victim in a personal injury lawsuit, it is important for the judge or jury to hear your side of the story.  Learning your perspective about how the accident happened and how your injuries have negatively impacted your life can help you get the best possible recovery, and can often make a big difference in your case.  However, it can be frightening to testify at trial, especially if you are unfamiliar with the legal system and are already stressed by your medical issues and having to navigate the legal process.

Your personal injury attorney can help to ease some of this stress by preparing you for your testimony.  You and your attorney will go over what happened and the questions that he or she will ask at trial.  Doing this isn’t the same as coaching you to say something — it is simply to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible and to help you tell your story in a consistent way in what can be an intimidating situation.

During your testimony, your attorney will start by asking you questions that will allow you to explain what happened to you in your own words.  You will have a chance to tell the judge and jury what you experienced and felt before, during, and after the accident.  This will help the judge and jury understand what you went through — and how you have suffered as a result of the accident.

Once your lawyer has finished asking you questions, the other side’s attorney will have the chance to ask you questions.  While your personal injury attorney cannot know exactly what the other lawyer will ask, he or she will likely be able to predict what most of the questions will be about, which can help you focus and plan how to answer these questions.  The lawyer may ask you about difficult or sensitive topics that embarrass you.  Unfortunately, although you may not want to answer these questions, you will likely be required to answer them.

If your case goes to trial, you will likely need to testify.  It is understandable that you will be nervous and worried about what to say, how you will come across — and even what to wear.  This is why hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is so important.  Your skilled personal injury lawyer can help you with every aspect of your testimony, including picking out your clothes, avoiding certain mannerisms, and going over your testimony with you.  With practice, you will become comfortable with testifying and more confident about going before the court.

Testifying can be a nerve-wracking experience, but with the assistance of a top-notch personal injury attorney, it can be managed.  At the Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, our skilled attorneys and professionals are here for you.  Contact our office today at 800-333-0000 or info@larryhparker.com to learn how we can help you if you have been hurt in any type of accident.  We offer free initial consultations, where we will explain your legal rights and options.  We never charge a fee unless we recover money for you.