You certainly must have heard the phrase “innocent until proven guilty.” Two parties involved in a car accident come together and present their evidence to a jury and judge in order to reach a verdict. While this sounds simple and less challenging, there’s more to car accident lawsuits.
Accidents happen, and when they do, you might need a car accident lawyer to win your case and secure fair compensation.
Juries are vital to the legal system in a car accident lawsuit, as they bring justice to complex human experiences.
Defendants and plaintiffs must understand the importance of juries and car accident lawsuits. In this article, you’ll understand the role of the jury in a car accident claim.
The Role Of The Jury
The jury plays a vital role in a lawsuit. Here’s how it works: The members of the jury listen to your statement and that of the other party, understand all the evidence provided, apply legal guidelines, and decide the outcome.
In car accident claims, the jury decides whether the plaintiff should receive compensation, whether the offender is guilty, and the amount of compensation that should be awarded to the victim. Let’s look at the role of the jury in a car accident claim.
The Jury Reviews And Deliberate On The Evidence
Jurors may decide to take notes while listening to all the evidence presented, paying attention to every detail. However, once the jury starts to deliberate, they cannot have transcripts of testimony for reference.
Due to the already set deliberation rules, jurors must rely on memory, exhibits/evidence presented, and notes they take. The jury will also discuss your car accident, the facts, and the evidence in detail. Once the facts are established, the jury will then apply the law to the facts. Deliberating on cases differs, and deliberation can go on for hours while others can take 2-4 days.
They Decide How Much You Should Be Awarded For Your Pain And Suffering
In addition to loss of wages, medical expenses, and property damage, the jury also plays the role of deciding the amount you should receive for your suffering and pain.
This can be difficult to calculate, but the jurors will refer to their experience, understanding of the claim, and background in order to determine a reasonable and fair compensation for your suffering and pain.
They Determine The Facts Of A Case
When a car accident lawsuit goes to trial, both sides are allowed to present their arguments before the jury. This includes cross-examinations, witness questioning, and providing evidence about the car accident and the injuries sustained.
The jury is solely responsible for determining how the car accident happened and how it caused your injuries by considering and listening to all the evidence presented.
The Jury Can Reach A Verdict
After both parties have presented their arguments to the jury, the jurors are taken to a private room with no access to lawyers, news sources, or witnesses. The jury will weigh every piece of evidence, apply the law according to the judge’s instructions, and then determine liability.
Unlike juries in criminal cases, car accident lawsuits require a majority consensus; they do not need to make a decision. Once they reach a decision, they return to the courtroom, and the judge announces their verdict.
They Represent the Community
When you think about it, jurors are just regular people like you and me who come from the same community as everyone involved in the trial. Their job isn’t only to listen to facts and make a decision; they also bring the everyday views and values of the community into the courtroom.
This is important because laws alone don’t always cover every feeling or belief that people in a community might have. When jurors make a decision, they’re speaking on behalf of what the whole community thinks is right or fair.
In this way, they help ensure that the court’s verdict aligns with what people in the community feel is just. It’s like a way of saying, “This is what we, as a society, believe should happen in cases like this.”
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