What questions can you expect to be asked in a deposition?

If you're covering a deposition in a trial, it's pretty natural to wonder what sort of questions those who are deposed will be asked. There are always going to be basic questions - what's their name, how old are they, where do they work. Then there will be the more specific questions - questions that are related to the case at hand. These will vary some based on the person's role in the case. If the person being questioned was a witness, they'll be asked about what they saw - where they were when an accident happened, how it happened, and what they saw in the immediate aftermath. On the other hand, if the person involved in the deposition was the victim of a crime, they will probably be asked what they were doing in the time leading up to the situation, if they have any idea why they were targeted, and what happened after the fact. If there was an injury, they'll be asked about how quickly or slowly they healed, about which doctors they saw, how they were treated, and how their lives were impacted overall.

In general, someone is sworn in for a deposition, he or she will be asked questions that establish their identity and their credibility, what role they played in the case, and more information about whatever the trial is related to. The initial questions will be about who the person testifying is and what kind of career he or she has - the answers become a matter of court record, and help to let those involved in the trial know that the information that you provide is accurate. The rest of the questions will be more directly related to the case. If the case is about an injury, there may be questions about how the injury was treated, whether or not the person had to take time off from work, and about which doctors were brought in to provide treatment. If the case is about a car accident, the person on the stand may be asked about his or her driving record, for details about which lane he or she was driving in, how fast the car was moving, and what led to the accident.