West Palm Beach Car Accident Special Verdict Form

If the defendant claims that you, the West Palm Beach car accident plaintiff, was partially at fault in the West Palm Beach car accident and the case goes to the jury, you might see the following questions on the verdict form:

1. Was the defendant negligent in one or more ways as claimed by the West Palm Beach car accident plaintiff?
2. Was the defendant's negligence the proximate cause of injuries and damages to the West Palm Beach car accident plaintiff?
3. Was the West Palm Beach car accident plaintiff negligent?
4. Was the West Palm Beach car accident plaintiff's negligence the proximate cause of the plaintiff's injuries and damages?
5. Using 100% as the total, what percentage at fault was the defendant and what percentage at fault was the plaintiff.

If the jury finds you were some percentage at fault, the judge will reduce the jury award by the percentage of fault the jury finds you.

West Palm Beacg Car Accident Plaintiff's Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict

When a defendant answers a complaint in a West Palm Beach car accident, they also have to raise any affirmative defenses they believe apply to the case. Usually the defendant will assert contributory negligence by saying that the plaintiff was somehow partially at fault for the West Palm Beach car accident. If your case proceeds to trial, the defendant will have to prove this as a matter of law. Your West Palm Beach car accident lawyer upon conlcusion of the trial may ask for a directed verdict on the issue and the judge may grant or deny it. If the case proceeds to the jury and they render a verdict findding you to be some percentage at fault, your West Palm Beach car accident attorney may file a Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict stating that the defendant failed to prove that had you been more careful you could have avoided the accident.