What Happens During Personal Injury Trial in Toledo?

If you are going for a personal injury lawsuit, note that in most cases, these lawsuits are settled even before they go to trial. However, in case it does go to trial, it will consist of eight stages. There is nothing for you to worry about as a personal injury lawyer in Toledo will take care of it all for you. So, what are these stages we are talking about?

Jury selection:

The selection of the jury is one of the first stages of a trial. However, if the trial is only overseen by a judge, this will not apply. During the selection, a number of jurors will be assessed to see if they are fit and free of bias. After they have explained the case, the attorneys will see if there is any bias, and once that is done, the jury is formed. 

The opening statement:

The next stage would be opening statements. In this stage, the attorneys of both the plaintiff and the defendant outline the case to the jury with proper evidence. This stage usually takes 1-2 hours. However, if there are more parties involved, it may take longer. It is also important to note that the onus is on the plaintiff’s attorney to establish the liability of the other parties involved. The defense attorney can then proceed with their defense

Witness testimony:

Witness testimonies play a very important role in establishing the liability of the responsible party. The defense attorney can also bring witnesses to defend their side. These witnesses usually bring with them visual witnesses in the form of footage, documentary, medical records, etc. 

Cross-examination:

In case you are wondering what happens during cross-examination, the two attorneys will ask the witnesses of the other party some questions, to make a point or statement. This is an attempt by each party to diminish the strength of the other party’s evidence. 

Closing arguments:

In this stage, both attorneys will summarize the findings through their evidence and reasoning. They cannot bring in any new information at this point. It must also be noted that the plaintiff’s attorney speaks first and then the defendant. The plaintiff’s attorney can then offer final statements. 

Final thoughts:

The other stages include instructions to the jury, jury deliberation, and the announcement of the verdict. To learn more about these, get in touch with a Toledo lawyer today.