Your Macon County injury attorney knows how important your testimony is at your personal injury trial. Following the recommendations listed below will help you to be the best witness possible.
How to Be a Good Witness
- Try to simply be yourself. Although you may be nervous, your Macon County injury lawyer will tell you that this is perfectly normal. The jurors will understand and even expect your nervousness. If you tell the truth when testifying, more than likely, your nerves will settle after a little while.
- The jurors expect you to answer the questions without help from anyone else. Therefore, looking to your Macon County injury attorney for answers will only serve to make the jury suspicious.
- As often as possible, use complete sentences, speak clearly, and avoid words such as “yeah,” “ah,” or “um.”
- Keep your temper under control. Your Macon County injury attorney knows that the defense will attempt to make you lose your temper because it will help them win their case. However, responding with courtesy to any badgering by the defense will make a favorable impression on the jury.
- Don’t think ahead or anticipate your answer to a question until the questioner has finished. Listen attentively to each question to make sure you understand what is being asked, and then take your time to respond carefully.
- Because jurors are more likely to believe someone who looks them in the eye, your Macon County injury attorney will advise you to maintain eye contact with the jurors. It is very important that when answering questions you look various jurors in the eye and speak as if you were visiting with a close relative or friend.
- Jurors will more than likely be able to discern any exaggeration of injuries and will become suspicious of such testimony. You should refrain from trying to make your injuries look worse than they are.
- At all times, be truthful! Your Macon County injury lawyer will tell you that the importance of telling the truth cannot be stressed enough. Almost every case will have issues that may be detrimental, but this should not make you avoid the truth. Your case can be destroyed if the defense exposes any type of falsehood.
Contact Us
You can help your case a great deal by being a prepared, courteous, confident and truthful witness. To consult an experienced and knowledgeable Macon County injury lawyer, please call McCarthy Rowden & Baker at 800-373-6050 to schedule a free consultation.
