District of Columbia Jury Instruction — Personal Injury is a comprehensive set of guidelines and directions given to a jury in a personal injury case conducted within the jurisdiction of the District of Columbia. These instructions serve as a roadmap to help jurors understand the legal principles and criteria they should use to reach a fair and unbiased verdict. Personal injury cases involve accidents or incidents that result in physical or emotional harm to an individual, caused by the negligence or intentional actions of another party. Therefore, the District of Columbia Jury Instruction — Personal Injury plays a crucial role in ensuring that justice is served and that the injured party receives appropriate compensation for their losses. This set of instructions comprises various types or categories, each addressing specific aspects and legal elements of a personal injury case. These categories may include: 1. Negligence and Duty of Care: — Duty of Care: This instruction explains the standard of care expected from individuals or entities to avoid causing harm to others. — Breach of Duty: This instruction defines what constitutes a breach of duty and how it establishes negligence in a personal injury case. — Causation: These instructions examine both actual causation (whether the defendant's conduct was the cause-in-fact of the injury) and proximate causation (whether the injury was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the defendant's conduct). 2. Comparative Negligence: — Contributory Negligence: These instructions discuss the concept of contributory negligence, where the plaintiff's own actions contribute to the injury, potentially affecting the damages they can recover. — Comparative Negligence: This instruction explains the principle of comparative negligence, wherein the jury must determine the percentage of fault assigned to each party involved and adjust the damages awarded accordingly. 3. Damages: — Compensatory Damages: These instructions outline the types of compensatory damages available to the plaintiff, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium. — Punitive Damages: This category instructs the jury on punitive damages, which serve as a form of punishment and deterrence when the defendant's behavior is found to be particularly egregious or reprehensible. Additionally, the District of Columbia Jury Instruction — Personal Injury may include instructions on the burden of proof, credibility of witnesses, expert testimony, and other relevant legal principles specific to personal injury cases in the District of Columbia. Overall, the District of Columbia Jury Instruction — Personal Injury provides jurors with a clear understanding of their responsibilities and guidelines to assess the evidence presented, apply the law correctly, and determine liability and damages fairly in personal injury cases within the District of Columbia jurisdiction.