Most people who have never been part of a lawsuit before have no idea what interrogatories are until they go through the process. One of the reasons it pays to work with an experienced personal injury attorney is that we can walk you through this and other processes. For now, you can keep reading to get the basics of interrogatories, then call us at 909-982-0707 if you require a free legal consultation.
What Are Interrogatories?
These are written questions that you are required to respond to under oath. They occur during the discovery phase of a personal injury lawsuit. In some cases, you will need to provide documents and evidence as well, and it is common for a deposition to be required in addition to interrogatories. A deposition involves going to a lawyer’s office (with your attorney), being sworn in by a court reporter, and answer questions. The court reporter then types up a transcript.
The Purpose of Interrogatories
The point of interrogatories is to get information about a party in a lawsuit. In a car accident case, questions you might have to answer on interrogatories could include details about where you live and work, or details about the accident. You might be asked about your injuries, which doctors you worked with, and any continuing issues you have as a result of the injuries.
You Are Required to Respond to Interrogatories
When a person decides to ignore interrogatories, the other side can then go to court and request that the judge orders them to respond by a specific date. If the interrogatories are still not answered, fines can be levied.
Note that while you are required to respond, your attorney can object to the interrogatories. For example, one common objection is that the interrogatory is unduly burdensome. This could be because the defense attorney has requested answers to hundreds of questions in an attempt to fish out some information that could help them.
What You Say During Your Interrogatory Can Be Used Against You at Trial
If your case ends up in trial, whatever you said during your interrogatories can be used against you. It is unfortunate that sometimes people who do not realize this assume that they can exaggerate because they are not in a court of law. This is a mistake, because your interrogatories can be used to impeach you if your case goes to trial.
There is a Deadline
There will be a deadline set. It is generally better to answer sooner rather than later so that you do not risk being in contempt. Your personal injury attorney will review all interrogatories to determine what you should answer and what they will object to.
If you do not yet have an attorney on your side, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
