This form is a sample set of jury instructions regarding the type of damages to be awarded.
Illinois Jury Instruction — Personal Injury: A Comprehensive Guide Introduction: Illinois jury instructions are legal guidelines and explanations provided to jurors by the judge during a trial. These instructions help jurors understand the law and apply it to the specific facts of the case before them. In personal injury cases, specific Illinois jury instructions are given to guide jurors in determining liability, damages, and other crucial aspects related to personal injury claims. Types of Illinois Jury Instructions — Personal Injury: 1. Elements of Negligence: — This instruction provides jurors with a detailed description of the essential elements required to establish a negligence claim in a personal injury case. It outlines the duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. — Keywords: negligence, duty of care, breach, causation, damages. 2. Comparative Fault: — This instruction addresses situations where the plaintiff's own negligence may have contributed to the personal injury. Illinois follows a modified comparative fault system, allowing the plaintiff to recover damages based on their percentage of fault. — Keywords: comparative fault, contributory negligence, modified comparative fault, percentage of fault. 3. Duty to Mitigate Damages: — This instruction explains to the jury that the plaintiff has a legal duty to take reasonable steps to minimize their damages once injured. Failure to do so might reduce the amount of compensation they are entitled to. — Keywords: duty to mitigate, mitigation of damages, reasonable steps. 4. Medical Expenses: — This instruction guides the jury on how to assess the plaintiff's medical expenses. It informs them about what types of medical costs are recoverable and how to determine their reasonableness. — Keywords: medical expenses, recoverable costs, reasonableness. 5. Pain and Suffering: — This instruction helps the jury understand how to evaluate and calculate damages for the plaintiff's pain and suffering. It outlines factors to consider, such as the nature and extent of the injuries. — Keywords: pain and suffering, non-economic damages, evaluation of damages. 6. Lost Wages and Future Earnings: — This instruction explains how to calculate damages for lost wages and future earning capacity in personal injury cases where the plaintiff is unable to work or faces reduced earning potential due to the injury. — Keywords: lost wages, future earnings, earning capacity, calculation of damages. 7. Wrongful Death: — In cases where personal injury results in death, this instruction guides the jury in evaluating damages for losses suffered by the deceased's family. It covers aspects such as loss of support, companionship, and funeral expenses. — Keywords: wrongful death, damages evaluation, loss of support, funeral expenses. Conclusion: Illinois jury instructions play a vital role in personal injury cases by ensuring that jurors have a clear understanding of the law and their responsibilities when deciding the outcome. These instructions help maintain consistent application of the law across various personal injury cases, promoting fairness and justice for all parties involved.
Illinois Jury Instruction — Personal Injury: A Comprehensive Guide Introduction: Illinois jury instructions are legal guidelines and explanations provided to jurors by the judge during a trial. These instructions help jurors understand the law and apply it to the specific facts of the case before them. In personal injury cases, specific Illinois jury instructions are given to guide jurors in determining liability, damages, and other crucial aspects related to personal injury claims. Types of Illinois Jury Instructions — Personal Injury: 1. Elements of Negligence: — This instruction provides jurors with a detailed description of the essential elements required to establish a negligence claim in a personal injury case. It outlines the duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. — Keywords: negligence, duty of care, breach, causation, damages. 2. Comparative Fault: — This instruction addresses situations where the plaintiff's own negligence may have contributed to the personal injury. Illinois follows a modified comparative fault system, allowing the plaintiff to recover damages based on their percentage of fault. — Keywords: comparative fault, contributory negligence, modified comparative fault, percentage of fault. 3. Duty to Mitigate Damages: — This instruction explains to the jury that the plaintiff has a legal duty to take reasonable steps to minimize their damages once injured. Failure to do so might reduce the amount of compensation they are entitled to. — Keywords: duty to mitigate, mitigation of damages, reasonable steps. 4. Medical Expenses: — This instruction guides the jury on how to assess the plaintiff's medical expenses. It informs them about what types of medical costs are recoverable and how to determine their reasonableness. — Keywords: medical expenses, recoverable costs, reasonableness. 5. Pain and Suffering: — This instruction helps the jury understand how to evaluate and calculate damages for the plaintiff's pain and suffering. It outlines factors to consider, such as the nature and extent of the injuries. — Keywords: pain and suffering, non-economic damages, evaluation of damages. 6. Lost Wages and Future Earnings: — This instruction explains how to calculate damages for lost wages and future earning capacity in personal injury cases where the plaintiff is unable to work or faces reduced earning potential due to the injury. — Keywords: lost wages, future earnings, earning capacity, calculation of damages. 7. Wrongful Death: — In cases where personal injury results in death, this instruction guides the jury in evaluating damages for losses suffered by the deceased's family. It covers aspects such as loss of support, companionship, and funeral expenses. — Keywords: wrongful death, damages evaluation, loss of support, funeral expenses. Conclusion: Illinois jury instructions play a vital role in personal injury cases by ensuring that jurors have a clear understanding of the law and their responsibilities when deciding the outcome. These instructions help maintain consistent application of the law across various personal injury cases, promoting fairness and justice for all parties involved.