Why You NEED Visuals in Injury Cases
I was shocked when I took over this case after the client fired her prior lawyer…
The prior lawyer took the deposition of the treating doctor for use at trial and didn’t use a single visual illustration or prop.
❌ No illustrations showing the injury.
❌ No illustrations showing the procedure to treat the injury.
❌ No anatomy diagrams showing the body parts injured.
❌ No anatomical models.
And to make matters worse, the doctor’s testimony frequently used medical terms for the anatomy that a layperson wouldn’t know.
The deposition was useless.
You have to show your client’s injuries. You have to show the procedures. You have to use terms that the jury will understand. You have to get the doctor to explain the medical jargon.
This seems simple, but I routinely see other lawyers who don’t do this.
This is why we use all sorts of visual illustrations and anatomical models in our cases.
No case is too small to use them in. Even if the most significant treatment was an epidural steroid injection, we’re using an illustration of the procedure.
If you’re looking for cost-effective solutions to provide visuals in cases that might not be super high-value, some potential solutions could be:
- Purchase stock illustrations of routine procedures and use them multiple times
- Use anatomical models and repurpose them in different cases
- Some doctors’ offices have their own visuals they use for patients that they will let you use
It’s cliche, but a picture is worth a thousand words. When it comes to your client’s injuries, you need to show them.
And, if you want more ideas on how to use case visuals effectively, check out Episode 14 of the Championing Justice podcast: The Power of Visual Aids in Personal Injury Cases.
What’s your take? Join the conversation with me on LinkedIn.