Is the jury entitled to know that the at-fault driver has insurance?
No. it is considered unfairly prejudicial for the jury to consider insurance. It is felt that the jury would be likely to artificially inflate its award if it knew there were deep pockets available to pay the judgment. As a plaintiff’s attorney, it would be helpful if the jury could know this information because it probably would increase the size of the verdict. In spite of the rule against telling the jury about insurance, the jury is usually qualified regarding its relationship with certain insurance companies. For instance, at the beginning of the trial during the process of selecting a jury, the judge may ask potential jurors if they hold stock in the insurance company. Although this is not directly telling the jury that the defendant has insurance, most jurors figure it out.
Related Questions
- Does the insurance company for the at-fault driver have the obligation to pay my medical bills and lost wages under Colorados tort system?
- Who pays when the at-fault driver does have insurance but not enough insurance to pay for my injuries?
- Is the jury entitled to know that the at-fault driver has insurance?
