Questions About Your Vehicle Accident Answered With Interrogatories
Posted on: 16 July 2021
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After a car accident that was not your fault, you may want answers. Many accident victims are encouraged to settle their cases without going to court. In many cases, though, you may find yourself participating in discovery prior to a trial. Read on and find out what to expect from one discovery practice, the interrogatory.
Discovery: What's the Use?
Getting ready for a trial can be more time-consuming than the trial itself. Depending on your car accident, discovery can take weeks or months to accomplish. Part of the delay is because so much time is spent waiting for the other side to respond to discovery requests. Discovery may be thought of as an information-gathering exercise with several methods employed. Interrogatories are only one discovery practice. Depositions, admissions, medical examinations, and document production are others. Not all cases call for a lot of discovery, but you might be surprised at the volume of information sent back and forth with your case. Finally, the reason discovery exists is to allow each side to better prepare for court. Discovery and the information traded between each side amounts to evidence, witness statements, driver statements, medical records, and more.
What are Interrogatories?
As you might have guessed, an interrogatory is a list of questions posed by each side to the other. Your personal injury lawyer will be the recipient of these questions, and you and the lawyer will answer them while working in tandem. Your answers must be truthful, as all discovery information can be used in court when the trial begins. The questions consist of information about the accident, fault, injuries, future medical needs, and more. In most cases, some of the questions focus more closely on the reason you are now taking legal action. That might be a contested fault or it could be a question of the other side doubting your medical condition and the need for money damages.
The Outcome of Discovery
Almost any discovery practice holds the promise that the case can be settled outside of court. All personal injury cases may be settled at any time – even if the trial has already begun. Some discovery methods produce information previously unknown or unproven to each side and that either creates a new settlement offer or the acceptance of a previous offer, depending on the information. To find out more about the part discovery and interrogatories can play in your accident case, speak to your personal injury lawyer.
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