2.  Premiums Will Automatically Rise If An Award Is Made

Many jurors are skeptical that the plaintiff's claimed damages are real, and even when they believe that a plaintiff is damaged, they may be reluctant to render adequate compensation because they worry that doing so will raise their own insurance premiums.

3.  Insurance Companies Always Deny Coverage

Everyone has either had a claim denied or knows someone whose insurance claim was denied. The story is always a “horror story,” and the insurance company is the big villain.

4.  Insurance Companies Use Delay As A Tactic

Delay, delay, delay. Most jurors have had experience in making claims of their own (or hearing the “horror stories” of friends and family). A common complaint is the insurance company did not act quickly; the adjuster did not return phone calls or emails right away; or the payment of the claim took months. Most people think that the reason for the delay is to discourage claimants from pursuing a claim, to hurt claimant's cases, and to keep the money in the insurer's big, deep pockets for a longer time.

5.  Insurance Companies Thwart Policy-Limits Payments At All Costs

Many jurors have policies of their own and bargain for the amount of coverage they wish to pay for. Claims professionals know there is a vast difference between the value of a claim vs. the amount of coverage available for a claim. Jurors (and most plaintiff attorneys) view the policy as a contract guaranteeing a specific amount of money for all losses and if not paid, wonder why the insurer isn't paying the amount bargained for; that the failure to pay full policy limits, in other words, automatically equates to bad faith.

While it is trial counsel's job to sift through the jury pool via voir dire, it is imperative that claims professionals understand what jurors think about insurance companies. Knowing what to expect at trial is integral to properly investigating a claim, determining value, and evaluating the risks and rewards of future litigation. Meanwhile, think of each new claim as an opportunity to educate a potential juror.