Three Types Of Videos That May Be Beneficial In Your Personal Injury Case

8 January 2016
 Categories: , Articles

Share

There is an old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. If this is the case, then a video can be worth even more. This could be especially true if you have incurred a personal injury due to the negligence of others. There are several different types of videos that may be beneficial to your personal injury case. Knowing the difference in these videos, as well as their pros and cons, is the first step to deciding if a video will play a starring role in your case.

Accident Reconstruction Video

When an accident occurs, it is not uncommon for one driver to tell one version of how the accident happened and the other driver to tell another. This makes it difficult to tell exactly how an accident occurred, which can make it difficult to determine who is at fault. An accident reconstruction video can help to demonstrate how the accident unfolded, as well as the conditions when the accident occurred. Not only can these types of videos be powerful visual aids to accompany the testimony of your expert witnesses, but they can make your accident clearer for the judge and jury.

"Day In The Life" Videos

A good personal injury attorney is often a good storyteller. They are able to use words in a way that will allow them to paint a picture for the jury they are in front of. No matter how good a storyteller they are, however, there are still going to be people who will have difficulty visualizing exactly what is being described.

When your attorney is able to provide a "Day in the Life" video to the jury, they may have a better understanding how your injury has affected you and your family. This type of video will allow the jury to see and experience your difficulties from your perspective or the perspective of the one providing your care. This will have more impact than a written or verbal description of your injuries. Some of the things that they may want to showcase may include:

  • Any medical services or therapy that you are engaged in
  • Any activities of daily living you are having difficulty with
  • Family activities you may no longer be able to participate in and more

Clips of your day in the life of video may be used to help enhance your personal testimony, as well as the testimony of your spouse, your doctors, or any other expert witnesses the attorney is planning to use. Some attorneys have found that by spacing your day in the life of video throughout these various testimonies, instead of having one continuous viewing, has resulted in better juror attentiveness and higher settlements.

Deposition Videos

A deposition is any type of witness testimony that is taken by attorneys on both sides outside of the courtroom for the possibility of using it later in court. This is often done with a stenographer or a court reporter who records everything that is said during the meeting or interview. A deposition video provides the same ability to record testimony, but it allows you to be able to see the person who is providing the testimony.

This could be important for a variety of reasons.

  • A good video can quickly capture the attention of the judge and jury.
  • The judge and jury will be able to hear the witnesses' words, as well as see their body language. 
  • When done right, videos can be very persuasive over testimony that is simply read. 
  • A video will possibly show how the witness will perform if they are put on the stand.
  • A video deposition will record the opposing attorney's objections, antics, or other actions. This can be a valuable tool in preparing your case.

Talk to your personal injury attorney to see if your case will benefit from the use of videos during your trial or settlement conference. If the two of you decide to go this route, there are certain hurdles that your personal injury attorney must first clear to ensure that your videos will be admissible. The admissibility will vary depending on the facts of your case, and what you are trying to show or prove with your video. Your personal injury attorney will know how to handle this.

Check out the sites of local lawyers to read more information on personal injury law.