Personal Injury Lawyer
When a driver is being reckless behind the wheel, they can end up harming others by causing a serious accident. That driver may have been distracted, speeding, talking on the phone, falling asleep, or otherwise being careless while operating a machine that weighs around 3,000-4,000 pounds. It only makes sense that this individual should be held accountable for their poor actions that jeopardize the safety of drivers next to them.
If you were recently the victim in such a car accident scenario, then you may have chosen to file a lawsuit against that driver for compensation. As your case is being handled, you may have to participate in a deposition where the opposing attorney asks you questions about what happened. Your attorney can walk you through what the deposition may be like and have you practice answering questions to prepare.
Another element of preparation should include hiring a qualified court reporter who can take an accurate and detailed transcript of the deposition, so you can refer to what was said and use that in your case.
Court Reporter Duties
Court reporters are responsible for transcribing what is said during legal proceedings so it can be used as a reference tool by all parties involved in the case. Some people may think it’s better to save money and take notes themselves. However, this can truly be detrimental to a person’s case, since the average person just doesn’t have the skills to accurately write down everything that is said verbatim.
To take this point further, court reporters actually have to go through rigorous training and must be able to type at speeds upwards of 200 words per minute, along with using unique coding in a stenographer machine with an accuracy of 95% or higher. A court reporter may use shorthand typing or a mouthpiece for voice writing when transcribing the deposition. The court reporter you hire must be able to.
- Read previous statements from the transcript during the deposition when requested by either attorney
- Transcribe what is said in the deposition verbatim
- File the transcript with country clerk in a reasonably timely manner
- Create transcripts based on standardized formatting
- Have extensive knowledge of legal terminology
- Concentrate, focus, and sit in one place for extended periods of time
Rules To Follow During Deposition
It is important to remember that you are under oath during the deposition, even if it isn’t being held in the courtroom. Depositions may be held in the court reporter’s office, attorney’s office, or conference room. All questions asked and every word state in response will be recorded by the court reporter. Be sure to answer verbally to every question asked, as the court reporter may not be able to transcribe a head nod, shrug, etc. If you do not understand the question being asked of you, you can have the opposing attorney ask you in a different way for clarification. You will have a chance to receive a copy of the transcript deposition and then work with your attorney to use the information to strengthen your case.