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What happens at Trial?

If your case goes to Trial, you have already come a long way through Pre-Litigation and Litigation. Knowing the sequence of a Trial can make the process much clearer, but the trial days will still be very long and slow-paced. Make sure to show up early anyway, and come well dressed and well-prepared. In short, Trial day may feel like waiting for the next thing to happen. The major steps are:

Opening Statements ⟶ Evidence and Examination ⟶ Closing Arguments ⟶ Deliberation & Decision

While there aren’t many steps, there will be lots of frustrating pauses along the way. The Lawyers will debate with the Judge over what feels like minor details, such as admissibility, objections, verdict sheets, and jury instructions. The courtroom may take long breaks for meals. What this means for you is that there is tons of downtime throughout the day, but your job is to be patient and keep a neutral, calm appearance the whole time.

HOW LONG DO TRIALS TAKE?

For Auto Wreck cases, Trials are generally shorter compared to School Injury and Nursing Home cases. If your case only has a few witnesses, Trial can last less than a full day. Some Trials are multiple weeks long. Your Attorney can explain the complexity of your case and how long Trial might take. Some cases are what’s known as Bench Trials, where a Jury is not present. They’re much quicker and deal with lower stakes. The other type of Trial is called a Jury Trial, and involve a lot more people. Those can drag on for what feels like forever.

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