When you're badly injured, the last thing you want to think about is filling out paperwork, searching for an attorney, or trying to gather evidence. Yet, these steps are necessary if you want to collect the compensation you deserve due to someone else's negligence. The more you know about personal injury cases and hiring an attorney, the less stressful this time will be.
We've created this website to offer basic personal injury law advice for anyone who has been injured or who may become injured in the future. Keep in mind that if you've been injured in a car accident, due to medical neglect, or even by slipping in someone else's parking lot, your case qualifies a personal injury case — and thus you'll find our collection of articles relevant.
When you are involved in a workers' compensation case, you might find that you will need to testify in the future. This idea might make you feel nervous, especially when your ability to receive compensation for your injuries might hinge on your testimony. However, you may find it easier to testify after consulting with a work injury attorney.
You Won't Have a Big Audience
The good news is that workers' compensation cases are handled in a way that is less formal than a larger court case. You will not have to testify in front of a jury. Instead, you will visit a hearing office in a small room and a workers' compensation judge will preside over your case. In some cases, you may be able to have a hearing over an online conference call and you may be able to carry out a deposition by telephone.
You will want to ask a workers' compensation attorney about the questions that might be asked because you will then be able to prepare for the interview. You might be asked about your injuries and about how long you have been experiencing pain. If you have suffered any injuries in the past, such as through a car accident, you may be asked about these injuries.
How to Respond to Questions
You will want to answer any questions you are asked truthfully. However, you will not have to elaborate more than what you are asked. If you are asked about previous injuries, you will need medical evidence to prove that you recovered from your previous injuries.
If you were employed in another line of work at the time that you were injured, you may be asked about whether you stopped working at that job as well. If not, you will be asked to explain what is different about the job in which you still perform. For example, you may have a second job that is more sedentary and does not involve heavy lifting.
The Outcome of the Hearing
After the hearing, your judge will make a final decision. The judge will include in a summary whether they found your testimony to be credible. The judge may accept some parts of your testimony as credible and reject other parts. To reduce the odds that your testimony will be rejected, reach out to a work injury attorney in your area about your case. They'll be able to answer your questions.