5 things to know if you are go trial
With the caveat that you should listen to your attorney as they likely (hopefully) know your case very well and are (hopefully) fighting for you, to us these are five things to think about if you are going to trial and will be testifying:
1. Don't embellish or tell the Judge what you think he wants to hear. 9 times out of 10 this actually hurts your case. The facts speak for themselves and if you embellish you give the defense attorney an opportunity to pick apart your testimony.
2. Be honest. If you don't know the answer to a question, say you don't know. If you don't understand a question, say you don't understand.
3. Keep your answers short. A good attorney will ask you mostly yes and no questions. When the defense attorney is questioning you, if you volunteer too much information your words can get twisted. If you say something that seems bad for your case it is your lawyer's job to ask questions that will clarify what you meant.
4. Dress appropriately. This will likely be the only time the Judge ever sees you. You don't need to be in a suit, but the first time I saw a client that hadn't showered and was wearing a hat was the last time I ever let that happen. Impressions matter.
5. Insist on going over the questions your lawyer will ask before the trial. You should not be surprised by any of the questions and your attorney should not be surprised by any of the answers that you give. That won't happen if you prepare. Your lawyer should also help you anticipate what the other side might ask.
Bonus advice is to relax. At the trial will likely only be two attorneys, a Judge, a court reporter and you. Your case isn't the trial of the century and if you are honest things should go fine. Most cases are decided by what the medical records say. Your job is to tell the story of how you got hurt.
We are workers' compensation attorneys that help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys. Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.
