Personal Injury Law

How do you know if you're prejudiced and able to do justice?

By Steve Lombardi

Charges pending in West Burlington Bicyclist's Death - It's been officially reported that charges are pending in the bicycle accident that claimed the life of Douglas Kenney. A truck struck him from behind. If you want to know how to look at this accident and decide if you would file charges switch one fact that applies to each; their age.

I've previously written about this accident. The truck driver is 61 years old and the bicycle rider 21. To see if you're prejudiced either for or against one or the other, exchange their ages. Make the pickup truck driver who strikes the bicyclist 21 years old and the bicyclist 61. Now that you change their ages would you file charges knowing the 21 year old was driving with the sun in his eyes? What would you say to the young driver? Would you say the same to the older driver? Would you be angry at the young driver for taking the 61 year old's life?

Try this exercise and see if your idea of justice changes. The same exercise works for evaluating sexual harassing behavior. Switch the gender for each person and then evaluate the behavior. You can do the same type of exercise in personal injury cases. Change your position from the jury box to the Plaintiff's chair at counsel's table. Now how do you feel about what the jury awarded the injured party? Now you're the injured person, not just some person you feel no connection with. It's pretty simple that's what justice is about, treating everyone fairly and according to the law.

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on March 14, 2008 (boomark / email).