Depositions, medical exams, and your phone
What usually happens after a case is filed, in the order it usually happens.
Last checked Aug 18, 2026 · LawyerUnc editorial. Educational only, not legal advice.
Depositions
A deposition is sworn testimony. Short answers. Do not volunteer. “I don’t know” and “I don’t remember” are adult sentences.
Review your medical chronology and social-media history with counsel the week before, not in the hallway.
Independent medical examinations
The defense doctor is not your doctor. Be truthful, be complete about prior injuries, and do not perform extra range-of-motion for the camera.
Ask counsel whether a representative can attend and whether the exam will be recorded, state rules differ.
Evidence preservation (spoliation) and your devices
Do not delete the crash photos, the Apple Watch data, the group chat, or the Facebook posts from the ski trip. Courts can instruct juries that missing evidence would have hurt you.
Use the preservation-letter tool on this site if you need a starting draft. It is a draft. It is not signed by a lawyer.