Five Reasons to Consider Video Depositions Now
There is no doubt the world we live in today is video-driven. It exists everywhere there is human activity. The legal field is no exception. Most attorneys today rely on video depositions as an effective tool to make their work easier.
Video depositions play a significant role in pre-trial discovery and overall trial prep. Expect the following benefits as you consider video for all your depositions.
1. Demonstrate a Witness’ Body Language
Video evidence is a powerful way to get a glimpse at body language, allowing attorneys to present a compelling case. If you only submit a deposition transcription in the record trial, you fail to show the jury the witness’s spontaneous reactions, body language, and emotional state.
You fail to show the pregnant pauses, angry glares, and nervous fidgeting. With a video deposition, you show your witness’s full demeanor when they testify. These are important to the jury or when you are preparing your team for trial.
2. Video Depositions Are More Cost-Effective
Video depositions can save you costly expert witness fees and travel expenses. In most cases, you will require an expert opinion from a doctor or a highly qualified and respected witness. These services are expensive, especially if your witness must travel long distances to attend trial sessions that could last several days.
Using a video testimony allows you to present the words any time during proceedings and repeated sessions;- it will save you a lot of money in the long run.
3. Preparing For Trial
Video depositions are valuable tools outside the courtroom too. You can use the video for reference when deciding who to use as witnesses at trial or when preparing a direct cross-examination of the witnesses. You can review the video beforehand and make accurate assessments during preparation and when you plan and fine-tune your trial presentation.
4. Hold the Jury’s Attention
When presenting evidence, the last thing you want to see is jurors losing interest. In the modern age, people are conditioned to pay attention to video as they see it everywhere, from televisions at home to YouTube on their smartphones.
You can keep your jurors attentive to the video screen for long periods with video depositions. They are also likely to pay attention and understand the depositions better than listen to a transcript read from a record.
5. Impeaching a Witness
Changing witness testimony is common in courtrooms. If you have video depositions, you can impeach them without hassle. Seeing the witness make an obvious different statement from what they did before will have a significant impact than simply reading from a written transcript testimony.
Is A Video Deposition Right For Your Case?
There is no question that the world has changed in the past few years. More than ever, most people rely on video for entertainment and education. These have found their way into jury boxes worldwide.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently reported that individuals who study video evidence find it more modest but meaningful and authentic than text. The same individuals also pay more attention to video evidence presented in a mix of textual and video evidence.
Now is a good time for litigators to reconsider the adage ‘seeing is believing’ that applies to court cases. A strategic video deposition will increase your presentation effectiveness and offer your client better results. With effective planning, you can use video depositions in your pre-trial prep to get the maximum benefit from this technology.
At Aptus Court Reporting, we want to help you succeed in your next deposition by scheduling it the way you want it designed. You can rely on our videography services, video streaming, and effective depositions technology to improve your presentations. Contact our video team to learn more about our videography & deposition recording services.
