Trial

Most cases settle without the need for a trial.  However, if the at fault party and or their insurance company does not offer enough to settle your claim, and it makes sense to do so, we will try your case.  The trial process can be as short as one day or as long as several weeks.

A trial involves presenting evidence to a neutral decision maker.  Sometimes the final decision maker is the judge.  However, most of the time the judge acts more like a referee by making decisions that ensure the trial process is fair.  Usually, in Florida personal injury lawsuits the ultimate decision maker is a jury.

A trial begins with jury selection.  During jury selection, a question and answer session between the lawyers, potential jurors and the judge occurs.  The judge decides the amount and type of questioning a lawyer can ask of a potential juror.  The parties then try to eliminate the potential jurors they believe will not be fair.  Ultimately, the parties, with the help of the judge, pick a jury of six people to decide the case.

After a jury is selected, both lawyers speak directly to the jury during opening statement, question witnesses in front of the jury, provide the jury with documentary evidence, and speak directly to the jury during closing argument.   The jury then decides whether you are entitled to compensation and if so, how much.