Voir Dire Question List – Motorcycle Accident, Police Report Against Rider
What does “voir dire” mean?
It’s a French term that means “to speak the truth.” In court, voir dire is the process where the judge and the attorneys ask potential jurors questions to find out if they can be fair and impartial in the case.
Why are we asking you questions?
This isn’t a test and there are no “right” answers. The goal is to see if there’s anything—past experiences, personal beliefs, or opinions—that might make it hard for you to look at the case with an open mind. It’s not about judging you; it’s about making sure we start with a jury that can decide the case only on the evidence and the law.
How does the process unfold?
- First, the judge may ask some general questions to the whole group.
- Then, the attorneys will ask follow-up questions—sometimes to everyone, sometimes to specific people—based on your answers.
- Some people may be excused “for cause” if there’s a clear reason they can’t be impartial. Others may be excused using a “peremptory challenge,” which allows us to remove a juror without stating a reason.
- The goal is to have a final group of jurors who can listen carefully, apply the law, and decide the case fairly.
- Attitudes Toward Motorcycles and Riders
- What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you see a motorcycle on the road?
- How do you feel about lane-splitting in California?
- Do you think most motorcycle riders are more, less, or equally safe compared to drivers of cars? Why?
- Have you or anyone close to you had a negative experience with a motorcyclist on the road?
- Have you or anyone close to you ever ridden a motorcycle? What was that experience like?
- Trust in Police Reports and Officer Opinions
- Have you ever read a police report about an accident you were involved in? Was it accurate?
- If a police report said one thing, but evidence in court showed something different, which would you trust?
- Do you believe police officers are always correct when they assign fault in a crash?
- How comfortable are you questioning an officer’s conclusion if evidence supports a different version of events?
- Preconceptions About Fault in Motorcycle Crashes
- In your opinion, who is usually at fault in a crash between a motorcycle and a car?
- If the crash involved a left-turning car and a straight-traveling motorcycle, what’s your gut reaction about fault?
- Do you think riding a motorcycle is inherently reckless? Why or why not?
- Comfort With Technical / Expert Evidence
- This case involves accident reconstruction—calculations based on skid marks, speed formulas, and time–distance analysis. How comfortable are you with hearing and weighing that type of scientific evidence?
- If two experts disagree, how would you decide which one to believe?
- Have you ever had a job or hobby that required you to understand measurements, physics, or calculations?
- Views on Personal Injury Claims
- Do you think there should be limits on what an injured person can recover in a lawsuit?
- Some damages are for things like pain, suffering, or loss of enjoyment. Do you believe those are valid? Why or why not?
- Do you believe lawsuits play an important role in promoting safety, or do you think they’re too often abused?
- Reaction Time and Human Factors
- Have you ever had to make a split-second decision on the road? What happened?
- Do you believe it’s realistic for drivers to avoid every hazard, no matter how quickly it appears?
- How much time do you think a driver or rider needs to see something and react before an impact?
- Openness to Both Sides
- What would make it difficult for you to be fair to both a motorcyclist and a driver in a case like this?
- Is there anything in your experiences or beliefs that would make you lean toward one side before hearing all the evidence?
- Could you put aside your personal feelings about motorcycles and decide this case solely on the law and facts?
Injured In A Motorcycle Accident?
If you have been in a motorcycle accident, call our attorneys. Even if we go to trial, we will make sure to win your case using every possible avenue, as you can see above. The motorcycle accident attorneys at AutoAccident.com will review your case for free and if we will represent you, it won’t cost you anything upfront.
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Portions of this page were created or enhanced using secure artificial intelligence tools under the supervision of our legal team to ensure accuracy and clarity. All legal information has been reviewed and approved by a licensed California attorney