In a personal injury lawsuit, interrogatories are a series of written questions you must answer under oath. During the discovery process, both sides will receive interrogatories and requests for admissions from the Defendant(s). A Minnesota auto accident attorney will review these requests before sending them to you to ensure none are improper or violate any rules.
Interrogatories vs. Request for Admission
Interrogatories differ from admission requests, which ask if your client can prove or disprove certain facts.
The purpose of these questions is to find out what happened to cause your injury and how it affects you now, both physically and emotionally. Your answers help determine whether there’s enough evidence to go forward with a claim against someone responsible for causing your injuries.
Discovery
Discovery is the process where each party to a lawsuit gathers facts from the other parties involved in the suit. It’s used to resolve lawsuits and helps find out what evidence each party has and what they don’t have.
The purpose of discovery is twofold: First, it allows you to gather the information that will help you prove your case against another party; second, it can also help you learn about their case so that when it comes time for trial (or settlement), there won’t be any surprises for either side of an injury claim.
Interrogatories are a part of the discovery process. The Defendant(s) will send you their interrogatories before they ask you any questions. Sometimes, it might take longer than expected because there can be issues with getting them approved by judges or courts. If your case is moving forward slowly due to these delays, both sides need immediate attention.
With the reported increase in traffic accidents, it would be prudent to involve a competent auto accident attorney in this process to expedite it.
Attorney Review
You should receive a copy of the interrogatories within 30 days of filing your complaint with the court, an explanation from a Minnesota auto accident attorney, and any responses from other parties involved in this case. If you don’t respond within this period, the court may decide in favor of the opposing party.
What Are Some Common Interrogatories to Ask in a Personal Injury Case?
Common interrogatories in a personal injury case include discovery requests for medical records and other documents. Some of these discovery requests will be made by the plaintiff’s attorney and others by the defendant’s attorney.
The plaintiff’s attorney may ask:
1. What were the dates and times of your injuries?
2. How did you get injured?
3. What was your general health before and after the accident?
4. Did anything unusual happen during the accident? For example, did anyone else get injured? Did anything break or fall apart during the accident? What were they doing when they got hurt? Was there any evidence that someone intentionally caused an accident or attempted to put you in danger? Were there any witnesses present at the time of your injury? If so, what were their names and addresses?
As you can see, interrogatories are important in the discovery process. They allow both parties involved in a lawsuit to gather information and prepare their case. They can also gather information from police records. For more clarification and professional advice, contact a Minnesota auto accident attorney.
