Questions About Your Case

(1) It has been two months since I heard anything about my case. How is my case going? ANSWER: In most automobile cases and in most workers' compensation cases, our primary responsibility is to accumulate medical records and medical bills and forward that information to the insurance companies for processing. These responsibilities take time and are controlled primarily by the doctor's analysis of your physical condition. Do not worry if you have not heard from our firm in two or three months; for if that is the case, we simply do not have any new developments to tell you about. If there are important changes in your case, or if we need information from you, or if there are any type of settlement offers, we immediately contact our clients. Clients are important to us, and I can assure you we will keep you advised of all important developments.

(2) How much money is my case worth? ANSWER:  Our primary goal is to present your case in the best possible light to the insurance company and then, and only then if they make some settlement offer, we will provide you with our analysis as to whether that settlement offer is fair or whether we should proceed to trial in your case. With our 50+ years of trial experience, we are certainly familiar with the judgments that are obtained in this jurisdiction on workers' compensation cases and the judgments that are obtained in automobile accident cases. Remember that we are not paid at McMahan Law Firm until your case is settled or your case is tried to a successful conclusion. Therefore, we too want to move your case as quickly as possible to see if the insurance company is going to offer a reasonable settlement. However, we are committed to the proper presentation of your case, and we will not attempt to secure a "quick settlement" without knowing your medical status and damages.

(3) What is a deposition, and why do I have to go through that questioning process? ANSWER: A deposition is basically sworn testimony taken before a court reporter and maybe a videographer that is later transcribed for use at trial to either impeach a witness or to present the witness' trial testimony. A deposition is an important part of your case, and therefore we take the necessary steps to educate you about your depositions and give you a checklist of things to remember during the deposition process. Because the lawyer for the defendant is judging you during this questioning, it is important for you to remain calm, stay collected and be polite. If there are any conflicts between your deposition testimony and your trial testimony, then those differences will be pointed out to a jury, and that could seriously impact your case.

(4) What is an interrogatory, and why do I have to answer all of those questions? ANSWER: An interrogatory is a set of written questions submitted to parties in a lawsuit requiring their sworn responses. These responses are important, since if they differ from trial testimony, they too may be read at trial. Therefore, the legal assistant on your case will work with you in answering these written questions, which many times contain background information that requires a thorough and accurate detailing of such matters as your work history, medical history, claims history and family history. You must accurately answer each of these written questions and work closely with the legal assistant, since this is the first information that the defense attorney will obtain about your life, work and family. If you make a mistake in your interrogatory answers or if information is left out, it can seriously impact how the defense attorneys may attack your credibility in your specific case.

Please contact us if you have any questions.