Know Before You Go: What To Know About Your Personal Injury Trial

When you are injured because of another person's negligence, you may need to take your case to court. While the vast majority of personal injury cases are settled out of court, the day may come when your case is being heard, and it can be a very intimidating experience. Your personal injury attorney is undoubtedly ready and able to represent you in court, but you can play a vital role in this process. Read on to learn more about what you may be facing when it's time for your day in court.

Be ready to be interrogated. You can count on your legal team to help you get ready for the big day by participating with you in a mock question and answer interrogation session. Be sure to review the information that is pertinent to your case, such as the accident report, your medical records and any notes or journal entries that concern the accident to assist in your recollections.

Try to stay calm and don't allow the other side's attorney to rattle you with rapid-fire questions. Take your time when answering, and only answer specifically what is asked, no more and no less. Be especially wary of open-ended questions, since you may find yourself saying far too much. If you misspeak, don't delay; let the record show that you accidentally said something incorrect. It's only natural to be nervous, but being prepared should help smooth the way for a successful testimony experience.

Be prepared to have your privacy violated. Often, litigants fail to realize that appearing in court can make their life an open book. Most cases are heard in open court, where nearly anyone who wants to can attend. Your finances, education, criminal history, employment, health, personal relationships and more can be exposed to viewing and become part of a public record. You must be upfront with your attorney about any issues that might be brought up in court; give them an opportunity to prepare a rebuttal for any allegations of past wrong-doing on your part.

Be ready for a lengthy trial process. Trials don't progress smoothly from one point to another; instead, they jump from one point to another with both long and short delays when absolutely nothing happens for days or even weeks at a time. Often, a trial is interrupted with motions, continuances, pleading, hearings and more that all conspire to turn most trials into a months-long process. Be patient and wait for your victory.

It's interesting that the word "trial" is defined as "ordeal" in some instances. Count on your attorney to be by your side every step of the way during this potentially stressful experience. Contact a firm like The Jaklitsch Law Group for more information.