We will make every effort to resolve your claim through a fair and reasonable settlement. However, if your car accident claim is not resolved through a settlement, a lawsuit and trial may be necessary. There are several procedural steps that follow the filing of your lawsuit, including discovery. During this phase, you may be required to answer questions and provide important information about your claim. At the same time, your lawyer could obtain valuable information from the other party.
The Oshkosh car accident lawyers from our firm are prepared to help you during this phase of your claim. We often advise our clients how to answer certain questions, as well as which questions to ask the other side. Let us review your situation and discuss your legal options during a free consultation.
The Discovery Phase
Wisconsin’s civil procedural rules allow each party to “discover” information about the case. This helps lawyers gather the information they need to prove their claim or make a defense, as well as to avoid surprises. Interrogatories are just one aspect of the discovery phase.
Understanding Interrogatories
Interrogatories are questions that a party involved in litigation sends to the other party. These questions must be answered truthfully under oath, unless there is a valid objection to the question. The party can ask most questions that could provide relevant information in the case, unless otherwise prohibited by confidentiality or the law.
Both parties are allowed to send interrogatories to one another. Interrogatories to parties must usually be completed and returned within 30 days of receiving them.
Information Exchanged Between Parties
The parties may also exchange information in other ways. After the car accident, the parties should have exchanged basic contact information and their insurance information with each other.
There are other tools that can be used to gather information from the other party. Some information can be gathered less formally, such as by requesting copies of medical or employment records. You can also ask your lawyer to prepare a subpoena to collect relevant documents.
Another discovery tool that may be used is a request for admissions, which is a series of assertions that the opposing party must either admit or deny.
Questions Asked in Car Accident Interrogatories
Car accident interrogatories will differ from case to case, but some of the most common questions asked may include:
- How did the accident occur?
- Where were you headed at the time of the crash?
- Did you have auto insurance coverage when the accident happened?
- How fast were you driving at the time of the accident?
- Have you been involved in any accidents within the past ten years?
- Were you under any medication when the crash occurred?
- Have you lost any time off work because of the accident?
- Are you required to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses when driving?
- What damages have you sustained?
- Did you suffer injuries in the crash?
- Did you receive medical treatment after the accident?
You should also be prepared to provide the following information to the other party:
- Fully identify yourself
- State your version of events of how the crash happened
- Identify any witnesses who observed the accident
- List and describe your injuries
- List all health care providers you have seen in relation to the treatment for your injuries
- Describe your earning and employment history
- Identify all documents you plan to present at trial
- Identify all lay witnesses and expert witnesses you plan to call at trial
Learn More About the Legal Process
If you were injured in a car accident, the dedicated legal team at Sigman Janssen is ready to help. Our accident attorneys have assisted many car accident victims and their families, recovering fair compensation for their damages.
Your initial consultation is free, which means there is no cost to discuss your claim with our firm. There are also no upfront costs for our services. You only pay us if we help you recover compensation through a settlement or verdict.
Give us a call at (877) 888-5201 to get started.