Verdicts Are Paid By Insurance Companies - Not People
While a jury is supposed to be fair and impartial, it is amazing how much important information is kept from the jury during a trial of a personal injury case.
One of the most unfair rules is that a jury is not allowed to learn if a Defendant has insurance coverage. What every potential juror should know however is that young person or little old lady sitting at the Defendant's table has insurance coverage that will cover every dollar you as a juror award to an injured plaintiff. Their attorney has been provided by the insurance company at no cost and not one penny you award to the Plaintiff will come out of that individual's pocket.
If the case involves an automobile accident, insurance coverage is mandatory in the State of Michigan in order to operate a vehicle. Dog bites and slip and falls are all covered under a homeowner's or business policy of insurance and most homeowner's policies have coverage of at least $300,000.00. Most Doctor's all have insurance coverage. The problem is that you as a juror are not allowed to hear evidence of insurance coverage at the time of trial so many jurors are reluctant to fairly compensate an injured Plaintiff because they feel like they will be hurting the Defendant.
If you are called to be a juror in a personal injury case, remember: No matter how sympathetic the Defendant sitting in the court room may appear, nothing you do to fairly compensate an injured Plaintiff will affect that person in any way.
One of the most unfair rules is that a jury is not allowed to learn if a Defendant has insurance coverage. What every potential juror should know however is that young person or little old lady sitting at the Defendant's table has insurance coverage that will cover every dollar you as a juror award to an injured plaintiff. Their attorney has been provided by the insurance company at no cost and not one penny you award to the Plaintiff will come out of that individual's pocket.
If the case involves an automobile accident, insurance coverage is mandatory in the State of Michigan in order to operate a vehicle. Dog bites and slip and falls are all covered under a homeowner's or business policy of insurance and most homeowner's policies have coverage of at least $300,000.00. Most Doctor's all have insurance coverage. The problem is that you as a juror are not allowed to hear evidence of insurance coverage at the time of trial so many jurors are reluctant to fairly compensate an injured Plaintiff because they feel like they will be hurting the Defendant.
If you are called to be a juror in a personal injury case, remember: No matter how sympathetic the Defendant sitting in the court room may appear, nothing you do to fairly compensate an injured Plaintiff will affect that person in any way.
posted by Neil Davis, Esq. at
1:16 PM
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