A deposition is a formal question-and-answer session where you or other witnesses answer questions under oath outside of the courtroom, usually in a lawyer's office. During a deposition, the opposing attorney will ask you detailed questions about the accident, your injuries, your medical treatment, and how the incident has affected your life, while a court reporter records everything you say word-for-word. Even though you're not in court, your answers carry the same legal weight as if you were testifying at trial, and lying during a deposition is considered perjury.
Depositions serve several important purposes in your personal injury case: they allow both sides to discover what witnesses will say at trial, preserve testimony in case someone becomes unavailable later, and give lawyers a chance to assess how credible and sympathetic you'll appear to a jury. Your own attorney will prepare you beforehand by reviewing likely questions and teaching you to answer clearly, truthfully, and concisely without volunteering unnecessary information. The opposing lawyer may try to get you to contradict earlier statements or admit fault, so it's crucial to listen carefully to each question and only answer what was actually asked.
