The Role Of A Juror In A Personal Injury Case

In the United States, juries may hear both criminal and civil cases. In civil cases such as personal injury matters, a natural or artificial person, the plaintiff, files a lawsuit against another natural or artificial person, the defendant. While Pennsylvania juries consist of twelve members in criminal cases, a jury may consist of as few as six jurors or as many as twelve in civil cases.

Jurors are selected when their name is randomly selected from voter and motor vehicle registration lists. A Pennsylvania county may supplement the master juror list by including additional lists from other sources. Selected jurors are sent a summons, which is a court order requiring them to appear at the time and place stated therein.

Jurors generally perform the following functions in a civil or criminal trial in Pennsylvania:

• Listen to all evidence presented during the trial;
• Deliberate by discussing the evidence with other jury members and deciding the facts of a case based upon the evidence presented, including testimonial evidence from witnesses;
• Apply the law to the facts that you determine in your role as a jury member;
• Refrain from any participation in all independent investigative activity;
• Determine the money damages in civil cases as applicable;
• Decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty in criminal cases; and
• Reach a verdict.

Accurately establishing all of the elements of a cause of action for personal injuries requires the experience of the personal injury attorneys at Powell Law. If you have been injured and require legal assistance, contact the Powell Law Firm. Our decades of experience make it the clear and obvious choice for representation in personal injury matters in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas. Contact Powell Law at (570) 961-0777. The consultation is FREE and you don’t pay unless we win!