If you’re involved in a lawsuit and the other attorney wants to “depose” you, this means they want to interview under penalty of perjury, to get your answers to their questions, on the record. Kind of like that famous scene in Basic Instinct, except you don’t have to uncross your legs.

The attorney interviewing you can use the information you’re providing to either try to prove their case and/or damage your case. The words you speak at your deposition are recorded into a written transcript (and these days recorded on video), and later used against you at your trial, if there are discrepancies in your version of the facts compared to other evidence that may be available.

Depositions are also a way for attorneys to see what kind of witness you’ll make for yourself if the case does ultimately go to trial. In many cases where a lawsuit is filed, even when there is no dispute of how a car accident occurred, the opposing attorney may want to depose you (question you under oath). This may sound like a waste of time and money, however it is usually the only opportunity for the opposing attorney to meet you, and see how you’ll perform under the bright lights and stress of being interrogated. How your answer, your demeanor, whether you’re easily agitated, and other variables may play into whether the opposing attorney decides to settle the case after a deposition or push it to trial because he/she thinks he can discredit or make you look untruthful on the trial stand. Take a look at our following video for some more great information. “WE’LL DO EVERYTHING SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO”