5 Examples of Legal Concepts That Courtroom Visuals Help Explain

In any case, complex legal concepts must be clearly outlined to the jury. While you can use words to deliver your message, one of the most powerful tools is visual aids, such as animations, illustrations, and interactive presentations. These tools make it easier for jurors to understand the facts and nuances of a case.

According to a study from Carnegie Mellon University, people tend to remember information more effectively when presented visually rather than explained verbally. At Advocacy Digital Media, we have created thousands of these tools to help lawyers explain these concepts to judges and juries.

Let’s look at the 5 examples of legal concepts that courtroom visuals help explain.

#1 – Establishing Liability

In all personal injury lawsuits, you need to show that the defendant was negligent and, therefore, liable for the injuries and damages suffered by your client. Animations, illustrations, and visual presentations can assist in establishing liability.

Animations, illustrations, and infographics can simplify intricate scenarios in your case, making it easier for jurors to grasp the details of the case. For instance, a clear animation of a hazardous condition on a property, such as a slippery floor without warning signs, can help jurors understand the concept of premises liability and determine if a property owner was negligent in their duties.

#2 – Duty of Care

The duty of care outlines an individual’s responsibility to act reasonably and prevent harm to others. This includes the relationship between drivers and other road users, health care professionals and patients, and property owners and visitors. In these situations, the duty of care requires individuals to uphold a standard of reasonable behavior to prevent foreseeable harm. Sometimes, that can be difficult for jurors to understand, and you can use courtroom animations to show what should have been done versus how the other party behaved.

For instance, in the driver-pedestrian relationship, drivers are expected to follow traffic rules and drive safely to ensure the safety of pedestrians. By visualizing an example, such as a driver checking their phone near a crosswalk, the jurors can understand the duty of care in action. The duty of care requires the driver to focus on the road and yield to others, emphasizing the need to exercise reasonable caution.

#3 – Causation

In any case, you need to show a show-and-effect chain of events that led to your client’s accident. Visual tools, like animations and illustrations, are excellent methods to show how the behavior or actions of the defendant played a vital role in causing harm to your client. You could say that speeding or a medical mistake was a factor in the case, but animations make a bigger impact on jurors. With that, you can fill in the blanks and help link this element to your claim.

For car accidents, a well-designed animation can help illustrate the sequence of events leading up to a collision. As a result, the jurors can have a clearer understanding of fault. Depending on the case, you might be able to show that the other driver was distracted or how they violated traffic laws.

However, traffic accidents are not the only cases that can benefit from visuals. In medical malpractice cases, animation and visuals can illustrate a surgeon’s negligence during a procedure. These tools allow you to highlight missed steps or improper techniques. With that, you have a visual demonstration that connects the doctor’s actions (or inactions) to the harm or injury suffered by your client. When using visual evidence, you can strengthen a case by helping jurors understand the medical jargon and other terms that lead to your client’s injuries.

#4 – Comparative Negligence

In most cases, the defendant is fully responsible for the actions that led to injury or damages. However, even if your client was partly responsible for the incident, then, as you’re aware, in some states, they can pursue compensation from the other party. If this is true for your client, you need to show the percentage your client is responsible for because that can reduce their settlement award.

For example, in truck accidents where both the motorist and the driver of a passenger car may have contributed to the accident, you can use visuals to represent the amount your client may be liable for. These visuals help jurors to apportion blame by clearly illustrating each party’s level of negligence in the accident. With that, you can have a fair and accurate determination of liability in these cases.

#5 – Determining Damages

When it comes to presenting damages, you need to consider both economic and non-economic aspects. By implementing visual aids, you can enhance the jurors’ understanding of these losses for all parties involved.

Creating an animated timeline with images depicting the deceased’s life events can be powerful in wrongful death cases. This approach not only reinforces the emotional aspects of the case but also helps justify compensation for the loss of companionship.

Additionally, when dealing with medical expenses, illustrating how medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and ongoing treatment expenses have affected your client can quantify the economic damages. This visual representation resonates with jurors and provides a better understanding of the financial implications of the incident.

Using visual aids in litigation is not just a matter of convenience but a strategic necessity. These tools help bridge the gap between legal principles and practical understanding, allowing your jurors to make decisions that favor your client.

When you are ready to create engaging visuals for the courtroom, Advocacy Digital Media is ready to help.