Going Before the Judge or Jury

For most personal injury cases, going to court usually doesn’t happen since the defendant is often more than willing to put a settlement on the table. However, there are times when the case will go to court anyway. And when this happens, it’s important that the plaintiff prepares themselves emotionally.

Now, good attorneys will help in this process by presenting their client with questions the defendant’s lawyer is likely to ask. This helps significantly, but like anything it’s not 100%. You might still be faced with a question that breaks you down emotionally. This is especially the case if the defendant’s attorney tries to cut down your character. If it works, you might affect the perceptions of the judge or jury… even if it’s subconsciously.

That’s why I would suggest that plaintiffs do additional preparation to ensure they are ready for questioning.

This could involve doing the following:

Read up on public speaking before you go to court. Some people may think this is silly, but the principles behind good public speaking apply for all situations.
Do visualization. Visualize that you are emotionally stable, even if you are asked hard questions by the defendant’s attorney. While you’re at it, visualize that you’ve won your settlement.
Make affirmations. Affirmations are statements that assert something is true, even if it hasn’t happened yet. If you are into positive thinking, you can find a plethora of affirmation CDs or programs on the Internet. Alternatively, you can cite your own affirmations when you get a moment alone.

Seek spiritual guidance. If you believe in prayer or meditation, you need to do it before your trial. Ask your Higher Power to give you strength when you get on the stand. I guarantee that if you are strong in your faith, you will feel more empowered.