The Seattle Personal Injury Blog
Posted Wednesday, June 25, 2014 by
Chris Thayer
As you move through your case, your Seattle personal injury attorney may provide you with 
advice regarding your testimony at trial. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Stick to the Facts
Understanding and using only the facts in regards to laws and regulations is extremely important. Your Seattle personal injury lawyer will likely advise you to provide a clear answer to the questions that you are asked. They will also likely tell you not to promise to get information that you do not have in order to more completely answer the question.
Do Not Exaggerate Your Damages
Your Seattle personal injury attorney will also likely advise you to provide a complete and accurate explanation of your injuries and your losses. You shouldn’t try to exaggerate or stretch the truth of your injuries because this attempt can appear dishonest to the jury, which will potentially hurt your case and your chance for recovery.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say “I Don’t Know”
While it may not seem like an ideal answer, some attorneys will try to trick witnesses by asking them questions outside the scope of their knowledge. However, it is not likely that you will know every possible fact. It is fine to say so. Stay away from providing times, dates or distances if you cannot provide completely accurate, factual information. If the attorney sneaks in a particular date, time or distance, let your Seattle personal injury attorney know if this information is not accurate.
Sometimes You May Not Remember
After an accident, it may be difficult to remember every aspect of the event. If you do not remember the answer to a question, simply say so. If you do remember, you must answer with an honest and straight-forward response. Sometimes, an attorney will try to pin you down with specifics that you may simply not recall. These details may be stipulated to by other information, such as medical records or police reports.
If you would like more advice about how to provide effective testimony, contact Seattle personal injury lawyer Chris Thayer at (206) 340-2008 to set up a confidential consultation.
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Posted Thursday, June 12, 2014 by
Chris Thayer
Collision coverage is an important part of your automobile insurance policy. In the event of an accident, your insurance company might try to deny your claim. Our Seattle Personal Injury Accident Attorney can review the benefits your insurance offers.
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Posted Thursday, June 12, 2014 by
Chris Thayer
Clients of a Seattle personal injury attorney often ask what tactics the attorney will use to
show that a witness is not being truthful when testifying.
What a Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer Will Do If a Witness Is Thought to Be Lying
It is possible for an attorney to use the witness claiming not to remember certain aspects of a case as foundation to undermine credibility.An attorney will likely try the following: 1. Show that the witness asserting that he or she can’t remember certain aspects of the case is contradicted by the witness remembering meaningless details of the same occurrence; 2. Show that, in spite of the witness saying he or she is unable to remember specific details of this incident, there has been a clear memory of other occurrences from well in the past; and 3. Show that consistent responses of “I can’t remember” center on the most important points of the case.
An Attorney Can Use Witness Forgetfulness as an Advantage
The witness continually stating that he or she can’t remember can be used by the attorney to benefit the plaintiff. The attorney can take the consistent replies of failing to remember to corner the witness. This can be done by asking questions to which it would be hard for the witness to justify suddenly remembering the answers when he or she had just repeated “I don’t remember” over and over.
In order to prevent a witness from claiming to suddenly remember after seeing documentation regarding the incident, the lawyer can use the deposition to ask if the witness could be helped by seeing such documents. If the witness replies by saying no, there won’t be a way for the witness to claim documents helped his or her memory.
Contact an Experienced Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have questions about how witness credibility will be called into question, a Seattle personal injury attorney can help. Call Chris Thayer at (206) 340-2008 to discuss your case today.
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Posted Thursday, June 5, 2014 by
Chris Thayer
Your Seattle personal injury attorney Chris Thayer will not accept your personal case without inquiring about the facts of your case first. If you need immediate legal representation, then you should come prepared by finding the answers to these 11 potential questions. Make sure to give your lawyer honest, clear answers, which will enhance your credibility.
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Posted Thursday, May 29, 2014 by
Chris Thayer
A Seattle personal injury attorney will collect physical exhibits, photographs and documents in preparation of a personal injury lawsuit. Following are examples of the kinds of evidence 
that an attorney may collect along with procedures for preparing the case and working with the opposing side’s legal counsel.
Evidence for the case
A Seattle personal injury lawyer may ask for or collect the following evidence:
• Physical evidence• Photos of the accident scene, vehicles, products, property damage and injuries• Any photos, information or documents in the plaintiff’s possession• Documentation regarding the loss of income from the plaintiff’s accountant or employer• Plaintiff’s tax returns• Documentation of loss of profits for plaintiffs who are self-employed or are business owners• Medical records• Hospital records• Other medical expenses such as medical equipment and prescription medication• Documentation of property damage• Electronically stored evidence (ESI• Any special damages• If the case involves a vehicle, the information from its electronic data recorder
Working with the opposing attorney
Through a process known as discovery, both sides must share any evidence, documents and witnesses that they are planning to present in court. This is done to allow both sides to prepare and to prevent any surprises.
The defendant’s lawyer may send a letter to the plaintiff’s lawyer requesting ESI or other evidence. In addition, the lawyers for both sides may meet to agree on how to preserve ESI and exchange information.
Additional preparations
A Seattle personal injury attorney may also request evidence from the defendant’s attorney and subpoena any witnesses. In addition, the lawyer will prepare the witnesses for trial and organize all documentation and evidence. The lawyer will work with the plaintiff to collect and turn over any evidence requested by the defendant’s attorney.
The process of filing a personal injury suit can be complex and confusing. A Seattle personal injury attorney can answer questions, manage evidence and provide legal representation for a plaintiff who has been injured in a car accident or by a defective product. Chris Thayer is a Seattle personal injury lawyer and can be reached at (206) 340-2008.
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