Why Is Insurance Not Disclosed To Juries During Trials?
With few exceptions, Vermont juries are never told that the personal injury claim they are deciding has insurance. That is because there is a rule of evidence that excludes this information because it is thought that it may affect the juries’ determinations and cause higher verdicts.
However, others believe that if the jury thinks that payment of their verdict will come out of the pockets of the individual defendants, this will potentially reduce the amount of verdict. Juries are left to wonder where the money to pay the verdict will come from even if they ask the judge during deliberations. The allowance of this information to the jury requires the court system to engage in a “legal fiction” to the advantage of insurance companies and to the disadvantage of consumers.
We offer free consultations to help you make a more informed choice. Our background and experience (see the “In The News” page of this website) can help in making a good decision about who should be hired to handle your case.
If you believe you have an accident claim contact us for a fee evaluation – if we take your case, we don’t get paid unless we get money for you. Our law office reviews cases throughout the State of Vermont – in Manchester, Bennington, Rutland, Burlington, Woodstock, St. Albans, Brattleboro, Montpelier, Woodford, Springfield, Wilmington, the Northeast Kingdom and anywhere else where there is jurisdiction in the State of Vermont.
©Winburn Law Offices
Latest Posts
The Person Who Hit Me Has No Insurance. Do I Still Have A Car Accident Claim?
You probably do. In Vermont, as in other States, uninsured motorist insurance is required. When you purchase insurance to protect against...
Comparative Negligence
Vermont adheres to a comparative negligence law that allows multiple parties to be negligent for causing an accident. Although an accident may be 100%...
Comparative Negligence
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are allowed in a civil suit but under a very limited type of circumstance. In Vermont, it is rare for punitive damages to be...