When you are victimized in an auto accident that is not your fault, it is the responsibility of the person or party who caused the accident to compensate you for your property damage, injuries, and other related costs. While many of these cases are resolved without legal intervention, it is sometimes necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit in order to receive the funds to which you are entitled.
But one reason that people are hesitant to file suit is because they are unsettled, anxious, or even fearful of being questioned by the trial defense lawyer. From many of the portrayals of defense lawyers on TV and in the movies, some accident victims have painted a picture in their minds of an unscrupulous, angry, fire-breathing monster who thrives on belittling and shaming plaintiffs in front of others.In reality, defense lawyers are very much like auto accident attorneys: they are normal, hard-working lawyers who are simply trying to represent their clients’ interests. After all, Illinois law states that any party in a lawsuit has the right to be represented by attorney. In many cases, defense lawyers work for private firms (much like ours) who focus on defending people who are being sued, rather than those individuals who have been victimized. If you have filed suit against a corporate entity, the trial defense lawyer may be employed by the company itself.Plus, many of our clients don’t realize that the first time that they would be questioned by a trial defense lawyer would not be in a courtroom. Instead, the questioning would take place as part of a deposition in the pretrial phase of the case. Depositions are usually held in a relaxed, private atmosphere like a conference room in a law office. Most importantly, you will always have your attorney at your side to assist you as the trial defense lawyer deposes you.Therefore, if your case does go to trial, you will have a good idea about what to expect from the trial defense lawyer – both in terms of the questions you will be asked on the witness stand and of the demeanor and style of the lawyer himself or herself. While it’s true that a defense attorney may attempt to “play to the jury” when questioning you on the stand, it is highly doubtful that he or she will openly demean or disparage you. After all, jurors are human too – and they’re not likely to look favorably upon the trial defense lawyer (and his or her client) who is being a jerk.The most important thing to keep in mind is this: from the trial defense lawyer’s standpoint, it’s not personal. A trial defense lawyer is only trying to vigorously represent the interests of his or her client – just like your attorney is doing for you. If you have any more concerns or inquiries about the trial defense lawyer in your auto accident case, your lawyer will be happy to answer them.