Your Conduct While Testifying in Court Can Affect Your Case
How you conduct yourself while testifying in court can make a big impression on both the judge and the jury. Therefore, it is imperative that you are well prepared for your day in court by knowing how you are expected to act and what you can do provide effective testimony that will help your case not hurt it. Your Ventura County personal injury attorney will provide you with tips that will help you to properly conduct yourself while giving a successful testimony.
One of the most important things you should keep in mind before answering a question is to listen carefully and completely understand what the question asks of you. If you are not clear as to what the opposing attorney is asking or if you simply did not hear the question, you should ask the attorney to either restate the question or repeat it more loudly and clearly. If the opposing attorney fails to do so, your Ventura County personal injury attorney may interject and help clarify the question asked of you.
Once you clearly understand the question, you need to make sure that you properly answer it. Only answer what the question is asking of you. You should never provide more information. For example, if you are asked a “when” question, you should only provide a “time” response.
Another important tip your Ventura County personal injury attorney will want to you to remember on the day of your testimony is to speak loud and clear. Remember, your testimony is being transcribed. Therefore, you should refrain from using body language, such as nodding or shaking your head or by using any other non-verbal response or hand gesture, in answering a question.
Lastly, you should never minimize your feeling regarding the accident or how the injuries you sustained from the accident affect your overall life and lifestyle. It is common for witnesses or victims to begin crying on the stand, especially if they are testifying about a particularly sensitive topic. In fact, your Ventura County personal injury attorney will encourage you to show your emotions, whether it is crying or getting upset, during your testimony. This is the only way the jury can see how the accident really affected you and your life.
If you have further questions and/or concerns regarding testifying in court, schedule a free consultation with an experienced Ventura County personal injury attorney by contacting Gary Mitchell, Attorney at Law, at (805) 449-4244.
Areas Served: I handle personal injury matters in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties including, but not limited to, these cities: Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Camarillo, Encino, Malibu, Moorpark, Oxnard, Sherman Oaks, Simi Valley, Tarzana, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Westlake Village, Woodland Hills.
Disclaimer: The material on this website is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. A result described here should not be considered an indication of future results. All cases are different. The only similarity among the case results reported here is that one of the parties was represented by this law firm. The Internet is not an appropriate place for sensitive attorney-client communications. Therefore, if you wish to speak to an attorney, please arrange for an appointment by phone, fax or email. An attorney-client relationship does not exist between you and this law firm until a retainer agreement has been signed. Links from this website to other sites are not intended to be referrals or endorsements of the linked materials.
Disclaimer: The material on this website is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. A result described here should not be considered an indication of future results. All cases are different. The only similarity among the case results reported here is that one of the parties was represented by this law firm. The Internet is not an appropriate place for sensitive attorney-client communications. Therefore, if you wish to speak to an attorney, please arrange for an appointment by phone, fax or email. An attorney-client relationship does not exist between you and this law firm until a retainer agreement has been signed. Links from this website to other sites are not intended to be referrals or endorsements of the linked materials.
