You should make sure you are properly prepared. Illinois Supreme Court Rules 202 through 212 provide that in most cases the parties are permitted to take “discovery depositions” of opposing parties and witnesses prior to the time of the trial of a case. A discovery deposition is an official court proceeding in which the opposing insurance company attorney has an opportunity to ask you questions and obtain your oral (spoken) answers under oath to those questions. The questions may be about your case and about your life. This includes questions not only about the incident described in your complaint, but also about your education, family, work, earnings, activities, hobbies, and your injuries. The scope of the permissible questioning in a discovery deposition is actually quite extensive. During your discovery deposition you may legitimately be asked questions about any matter that is relevant or is reasonably calculated to learn about relevant information about your case.

Insurance companies make a lot of money. The more claims insurance companies defeat or reduce , the more money they make. Since they are very wealthy, it should be no surprise that insurance companies only hire very bright and able lawyers to defend their claims. If you are not thoroughly aware of some of the major pitfalls or common tactics commonly utilized by insurance company attorneys to defeat your claim before your deposition is taken, your legitimate and valuable claim may be reduced to nothing during your discovery deposition.

Based on his 32 years of trial experience in the State of Illinois, Bruce A. Beeman of Wolter, Beeman & Lynch has prepared a ten (10) page booklet entitled “ABOUT YOUR DISCOVERY DEPOSITION”, which contains sections on: (I) “What is a Discovery Deposition”; (II) “How Much Time Will It Take To Complete My Discovery Deposition”; (III) “Discovery Deposition Basics or Discovery Deposition 101”; (IV) “Why Is A Discovery Deposition So Very Important?”; and (V) “Ten Deposition Rules to Win Or Lose By”. Injured clients of Wolter, Beeman & Lynch receive a free copy of this booklet well in advance of their deposition. Many clients have said the booklet is a valuable tool that can be used to understand the process and avoid mistakes which might otherwise ruin a good case.

Even if you are not a client of Wolter, Beeman & Lynch you can obtain a copy of this booklet. Just send ten dollars ($10.00) by check or money order to Bruce A. Beeman, Wolter, Beeman & Lynch, 413 South Seventh Street, Springfield, IL 62701 to cover the booklet, shipment and handling. Please allow two weeks for delivery. Thank you.