So, you’ve been through the litigation, we tried to settle at mediation, your trial is coming up, what do you need to know.
1) Your trial is going to have jurors. Usually, there are going to be six jurors who are chosen by us and the defense. You’ll have a hand in picking those jurors.
2) The jurors are watching you all the time. So, it’s important that you keep your decorum and that you be aware that the jurors aren’t only looking at you when you are on the stand. They are looking at you when you are in the hallway, when you are in the courtroom sitting at the table, all the time. So just be aware of that and be on good behavior (not that you wouldn’t anyway).
3) If you are asked to testify, be honest in your testimony. Be clear in your testimony. There will be plenty of opportunity for you to tell your story.
4) The trial is the opportunity for everybody to say what happened and how it has affected your life. When we go through how a particular injury occurred, we’re going to go through it slowly, methodically. If you don’t remember something, just say you don’t remember. If you are not sure, just say you are not sure. We will take you through every step so the jury has a clear understanding of what happened. We’re also going to give the jury a clear understanding of what your injuries are. Which leads us to…
5) Tell the jurors what happened. Tell the jurors honestly when it hurts, when it doesn’t hurt, what helps, what doesn’t help. We will lead help to lead you through your examination, in other words, your questioning, so that its clear to the jury exactly what we’re asking for and why.
Once we sit down at the end of the trial, it’s out of our hands and into the jury’s hands. Hopefully, if we’ve done everything right, the jury will fairly, accurately, and fully, provide just compensation.