Define bifurcated trial

Having this information before entering the damages phase will allow both parties to weigh their options in attempting a settlement before gambling on a second trial. If the damages trial does occur, however, much of the pressure is off the plaintiff, since the defendant has already been found to be at fault. In a case with more than one defendant, deciding liability first can potentially remove a defendant from the damages portion of the case. This is again advantageous to both sides, as the plaintiff will not need to prepare a case against a defendant who was found not liable, and the defendant who was found not liable need not worry about preparing for a damages trial.

Bifurcation is not without its risks, however. Without the damages component in the liability trial, a plaintiff is not able to fully convey the toll the incident at issue has had on their life. Returning to the auto accident example, perhaps the accident at issue occurred at a low speed, but the plaintiff required multiple surgeries. Without being able to go into detail about their surgeries, the plaintiff in a bifurcated trial is only able to say they were involved in a low speed accident.

The plaintiff can only make a general statement about suffering injuries, which may not sway a jury given the appearance of the accident. The people providing legal help and who respond are volunteers who may not be lawyers, legal professionals or have any legal training or experience.

The law is also subject to change from time to time and legal statutes and regulations vary between states. It is possible that the law may not apply to you and may have changed from the time a post was made.

For Attorneys. We Help! No Hassles Guarantee. For Attorneys Products Attorney Directory. The people providing legal help and who respond are volunteers who may not be lawyers, legal professionals or have any legal training or experience. The law is also subject to change from time to time and legal statutes and regulations vary between states.

It is possible that the law may not apply to you and may have changed from the time a post was made.