Personal Injury Lawyer Tips On Getting Ready For Your Court Date

When personal injury lawyers have exerted all their efforts to get a fair settlement but the other party won’t agree with the terms, you’ll end up in court litigation. Whether it’s your first time to attend a public court process or not, you need to prepare for it. In preparing, you need your personal injury lawyer’s help to go through the trial successfully. Here are some tips from a personal injury lawyer in preparing for your court date:

1. Practice with your lawyer

When you’re involved in personal injury cases in Colorado, hiring a personal injury lawyer Colorado Springs will help you familiarize yourself with the court in your area. Since they know how a judge or court is, they can guide you on how to give satisfactory answers during questioning, as well as how these answers should best be delivered.

Moreover, you can effectively conduct a question and answer portion with your lawyer so you know what to expect when being cross-examined by the other party’s lawyer. A lawyer can evaluate if your answers will help or ruin your claims. With practice, you will decrease the chances of mumbling and giving answers that can make you lose your case. Nearing the date of the trial, you can rehearse with your lawyer again so you won’t forget the details or facts of your case.

2. Ready your documents

Before a court date, you must prepare all the necessary documentation and evidence for your case. With the help of your lawyer, you must obtain and compile the following documents:

● Financial documents

● Character references

● Statements

● Police Reports

● Medical Certificates

● Documentary evidence

After collecting the necessary documents, you must do the following:

● Include all supporting documents. These may seem unimportant, but documents such as bills from your petition should be attached to support your claims. Also, check the rules of the court whether your papers need to be stamped before submission to avoid being denied to use such documents.

● Photocopy the documents. Aside from the original copy of all the documents you have filed in court, you must produce at least three extra copies of each document. For example, if the other party is a military man who has been misusing alcohol, you must reproduce documents supporting your claims about the other party, and that because of their alcohol misuse, they caused the car accident.

● Compile the files in an expanding folder or binder. Depending on what suits you, compile your documents in a way that will make it easier for you to find them. You can organize them by subject matter, alphabetically or chronologically. You can also use tabs to separate sections properly.

● Review your papers. Test your organizational setup if it allows you to find documents quickly. If not, then try another system or method until you can quickly find materials you need when in court.

3. Learn basic courtroom etiquette

Whether you’re the plaintiff or the defendant, it’s vital that you make a good impression in court. You don’t need to know all the rules on how you should behave in a courtroom, but learning the basics will help you during your court appearance. Here are some of the basic etiquette rules in court:

● Respect the judge. Since the judge represents the law and the authority in court, you must acknowledge this fact. By simply standing up when the judge enters the courtroom is one way to show respect. Never sit down until the judge says so. When the judge is directly talking to you, you must address them with the utmost respect.

● Dress professionally. One of the ways that the court can perceive you is through your manner of dressing. You must know the court’s dress code by asking the courthouse or checking their website. Your clothes must fit you to appear clean and tidy. Dressing comfortably will also help you relax in court. For instance, go for slacks and a tucked-in button shirt that fits you comfortably.

● Be wary of your behavior. Whether you’re talking to the jury, courthouse staff, or the opposing counsel, you must be courteous at all times. When speaking with any of them, maintain eye contact and be professional with your facial expressions. Avoid commenting rudely or showing some sense of humor as they may interpret it differently.

Conclusion

Whatever your case may be, you need to be prepared for your court date. Be sure to have all the pertinent documents ready and exercise basic courtroom etiquette. You can also practice with your lawyer about what to expect in a court case and how to answer questions in order to make the case go in your favour. The more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll be in presenting yourself in court.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.