A jury plays a role in settlements when a personal injury case goes to trial. In such cases, the plaintiff (the injured party) will present their case to a jury, which will then decide whether the defendant (the party being sued) is liable for the plaintiff’s injuries and, if so, how much the defendant should pay in damages.
If the jury finds in favor of the plaintiff, they will award a damages amount, which is intended to compensate the plaintiff for their injuries and any related expenses. The damages amount may include compensatory damages (to compensate the plaintiff for their actual losses) and, in some cases, punitive damages (to punish the defendant for their actions).
If the damages amount awarded by the jury is lower than the settlement offer that was previously made by the defendant (or the defendant’s insurance company), the plaintiff may choose to accept the jury’s award. If the damages amount is higher than the settlement offer, the defendant may choose to pay the higher amount or appeal the decision.
In some cases, the parties may choose to settle the case before it goes to trial. In such cases, the settlement amount is typically based on the damages amount that the plaintiff is seeking and the defendant’s willingness to pay. The settlement amount may be negotiated directly between the parties, or it may be mediated by a third party, such as a mediator or arbitrator.
Overall, the role of the jury in settlements is to decide on the damages amount that should be paid in a personal injury case if the parties are unable to reach a settlement agreement.