Car accidents are common in Utah and the parties involved in an accident should be prepared to face tough questions from Utah’s auto accident lawyers opposing you. The circumstances that lead to each accident are unique and therefore the questions will vary accordingly.
However, some questions, besides the usual name, address, etc., apply to all accidents. These questions are usually asked in a deposition or interrogatory or in a 1-1 with the lawyer.
There is one golden rule to answering these questions: If you don’t know the answer, don’t invent one. Just say you don’t know or can’t recall. And, be truthful.
Utah’s auto accident attorneys try and glean as much information as possible. The questions they ask seem mostly benign and are intended to obtain maximum information without putting the party on the defensive. We have compiled a list of such questions and hope that the list helps: It is important to have your own lawyer to protect you and give you a voice and we are here to help.
1. What led to the accident?
The circumstances that led to the accident help the lawyers understand the case thoroughly.
The lawyer may add the following questions based on the answer:
- Where were you coming from?
- Where were you driving to?
- Did you follow the traffic rules?
- What was the speed at which you were driving?
- Was the other car faster?
- What were the traffic and street conditions before the crash?
2. What were you doing immediately before the accident?
You should truthfully describe what was going on just before the accident. The lawyer will try and dig deeper by asking if you were distracted, maybe by a call or because of chatting with passengers, etc. Your answer must match with what you reported to the legal enforcement agency. If there are deviations, your case can weaken.
3. What did you do after the crash?
Utah’s auto accident attorneys can sniff out a lot depending on the drivers’ actions after the accident. A driver can flee the scene, call for medical help, speak to witnesses, click photographs of the scene and number plates, etc.
4. Did you speak to the other driver? If yes, what was discussed?
Tempers usually flare up after an auto accident and a lot of unpleasant words may be exchanged. However, some drivers engage in a meaningful conversation and agree upon certain things about the accident. The driver conversation is an important piece of evidence and therefore both the drivers should log what was said.
5. Were there any witnesses?
Witness accounts can make or break a case if the witnesses sail through the cross-examination. If possible, and if there are witnesses, the driver should obtain their names and phone numbers for follow-up.
6. Did you consume alcohol before the accident?
The state of Utah prohibits drivers from operating a vehicle if their Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) exceeds 0.05%, or while they are under the influence of drugs or other such substances. Drivers under the age of 21 must not have any alcohol in their system [Utah Code Section 41-6a-502].
Utah’s auto accident attorneys want to figure out if the driver had consumed alcohol or drugs within 24 hours before the accident and whether he was tested for BAC.
7. What did you say to the police?
Everything that any driver says in his claims, testimonies, depositions, or interrogatories must match what he informed the police at the time of the accident.
These are the top 7 questions that the drivers are asked by their attorney or by the other party’s attorney in a deposition, interrogatory, 1-1, or during the trial. Attorneys do not take guesswork or speculation for an answer. They will keep coming at you until they get what they are looking for. The attorneys also ask for everything in writing with the party’s signature on it.
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Car accidents are physically and mentally tiring, and generally, an overwhelming experience. Besides calling the police and reporting the accident, drivers have to attend to their injuries, and worry about the car damages and the legal twists and turns that the case can take. Not to forget – they are also required to talk to witnesses, obtain their phone numbers, and click photographs of the accident spot.
The easy way out is to call an experienced Utah auto accident attorney – someone like us – who will do all the legwork and paperwork while you attend to your injuries.
You can answer all the questions in the comfort of our office in Salt Lake City or via video conference – your choice. We will prep you for whatever comes your way in the form of depositions, interrogatories, insurance company meetings, and more. Just leave it to us.
We urge you to take advantage of our free initial consultation offer and experience how we turn you into a more informed consumer and litigant.
Call us or chat with us now. You have a lot to gain and nothing to lose.
