Some cases, at first glance, don’t appear very visual. They may be primarily a dispute of who said or did what, or they may revolve around a set of documents or electronic data. But the subject matter does not determine whether or not a case needs courtroom visuals. Rather, it is the fact that jurors’ understanding and retention of evidence significantly increases when it is presented in a visual format. Therefore, every case can benefit from courtroom visuals, as they help reinforce your case narrative, deepen juror comprehension of your key information and evidence, and help jurors properly assign motive and blame.
Courtroom Visuals Provide a Mental Image
During verbal communication, the listener typically creates a mental image of the information being presented to them. Imprecise words can lead to the listener imagining a version of the facts that is not entirely accurate. This mental image will then influence their deliberations and, eventually, their verdict.
By providing jurors with information in a visual format, you can eliminate the tendency of jurors to create their own mental version of events. Courtroom visuals such as trial animations have the added benefit of being backed by expert testimony, lending weight and legitimacy to their presentation of the information. Tying important concepts to visuals also helps deepen understanding, leading to more accurate recall of the information during deliberations.
Overcome Erroneous Attribution with Courtroom Visuals
Another benefit of courtroom visuals is how they influence juror attribution. In our fast-paced, technology laden society, many people are suffering from information overload. We are bombarded by information from the time we wake up to the time we fall asleep, which contributes to the stress and mental exhaustion many people feel. As a result, we often don’t turn our full attention to a speaker or presentation, instead running on “auto-pilot” and relying on energy-saving mental shortcuts to process the information.
One of these shortcuts is known as attribution – the process whereby we automatically assign meaning to a person’s actions. By assigning motives jurors can affix blame, labeling one side the “good guys” and the other side the “bad guys.” This then makes their decision black and white, and they don’t have to consider the details and nuance of the case to arrive at their verdict.
Courtroom visuals show jurors the details of the case in a memorable, easy-to-digest format. This helps relieve the mental strain of processing and comprehending information, allowing them to sort the facts easily and quickly. As a result, they do not have to rely on attribution, which often erroneously assigns blame and motives, potentially leading to an unfavorable verdict.
Rely on Precise, the Experts in Courtroom Visuals
At Precise, our litigation support experts have been helping attorneys communicate with juries effectively since 2000. Our compelling courtroom visuals help bring your case to life, adding invaluable benefit at trial. For more information on our courtroom visuals, call us today at 866-277-3247.
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