that right there would have been my ticket out of serving because I would have passed out in the stairwell at the 3rd floor!
 
OK... that got an actual LOL from me...  Be well my friend! Eat more becan!

You can always use the Trekkie defence... It worked once.
 
http://www.ew.com/article/1996/03/29/trekkies-jury
 

I think they have a certain # of dismissals w/o reason, from what I understand.  I got out of jury duty until my kids got too old.  They called me one time.  It ain't hard to get downtown - I live right by a train station (jeez, I need a job downtown again).  And in Dallas they have an enormous hall filled w/ hundreds of people that get shunted off to different groups.  I got called for an accident where the plaintiff was wanting extra money from the dude that hit her.  When it came to me, I said I didn't believe in extra bucks for extra Pain and Suffering.  She had gotten all her bills  paid, time off from work ect. etc. 3 times over.  The standard for insurance in Texas.  Basically, someone else hits you and if you aren't really hurt you collect 3 x whatever damages you come up with - Dr. visits missed work etc.  The average settlement starts about $5000 (depending upon your bills).  No need to lawyer up - his/her expenses don't get you any more cash and some of yours will come out of your insurance pay out.  Just let your insurance handle the paperwork - trust me, it is not something you want to do.
 
So I said I didn't believe in any extra cash.  It was funny, even the Judge was after me - "it is OK under the law."  I bit my tongue and simply told her I didn't believe in extra Pain and Suffering and she didn't really want me on her jury.  She let me go and I ain't heard any more from the Justice system. And we have several in Dallas - the City and Federal Court house (I don't think the county has juries but they'll fine you so they must).
 
Everybody should serve at least once to jury, just to see the sausage being made.  It is a civic duty and gives a good reason not to get into trouble w/ the law. 
 
@

AT
I didn't believe in extra bucks for extra Pain and Suffering. 

I do. But maybe things work differently here.
 
It's been almost 2 weeks now since that fellow hit us, and the insurance called us first thing in the morning the next business day to try and settle things down, before we'd even seen a specialist and before the damage were evaluated. 
 
From what I know and all that I've read and heard, a quick settlement is usually not a good thing and doesn't roll in your favour.
 
Since the accident, I don't get to go to the gym - which is a crucial part of my every day life, both physically and psychologically. The positive effects of an active life have been abundantly demonstrated, yet, it's hard to believe just how much change can occur in your body and mind just a few weeks. 
 
 
The effort and time I'll have to put in just to get back in the shape I keep myself and the months of efforts which have just been obliterated by one careless individual may not show up on a bill, but they are very real.
 
I don't get to work on music either, because my right arm's a mess, and, anyway, medication makes it hard for me to focus on anything too abstract, or even just to read a book... 
 
Basically, I spend the bulk of my days wasting time and putting up with neck and shoulder pain. Which after a few days can be quite depressing.
 
Those damages are likely to affect me for months to come, and to affect every aspects of my life. We already had to postpone hours of courses/training and the launch of our business - again, that's not covered, obviously...
 
My wife's even worst - she's suffered a severe concussion. Besides the (partially covered) lost of revenue, this means no tv, no computer, no nothing. 2 weeks of absolutely nothing, and counting. 
 
None of which is typically covered. 
 
So I may not be in an hospital bed and my injuries may not be the most serious (though my right arm is a potential source of serious worries) but the negative consequences are important.
 
If I were to choose, I'd pick up my undisturbed routine before any form of compensation. But I'm not given that choice. As odd as it is to monetize pain and suffering, I don't think that it's fair to simply discard them and say that they shouldn't be compensated for.

I was called once and was unfortunate enough to have been selected. Had to set through a whole week of idiotic questioning and legal mumbo jumbo....
 
Next time I will wear my Tea Party T shirt and my NRA hat....

I've been three times and every time I got stuck on a trial AND was the jury foreman...  Guess I need to wear an "Anarchy Now" t-shirt or something next time.

Never been asked and won't ever do it. I have good reason... but even then... I'd imagine it's still really easy to be removed for someone who's mind is set to it... and not in a way that lands you in trouble.

Rain,
 
then you've got a good cause.  I was speaking of those who have a fender bender and think it is their golden parachute.  I waited until about my 3rd wreck to claim any damages, which is what you have.  Find a good lawyer.  And if your case is tight, talk him down on the percentage.  A third is pretty standard although they keep trying to up it.  And don't take any money until you are satisfied with the deal.  I work on my own ranch, and the insurance company kept saying to claim worked missed, which is hard to figure.  I pay myself twice a year, and not with a W2.  Hard to claim days off that way. Hope that isn't your situation.  But the insurance does need to pay for your hospital etc. bills etc. until you are satisfied you are normal (or pay you the difference), that and missed work they will pay without too much squealing 3 times those bills - that is pretty standard across the US.  That latter is pain and suffering and reasonable.
 
Hope you get well.
 
@
 

Also, another reason was I knew that it would be very difficult for the plaintiff to convince me.  Not fair to her, really.  Just because I don't believe in a law doesn't mean she shouldn't have her day in court.
 
@

The Wake County court has it's own parking garage, so that was free and easy. Except for the extra taxes we had to pay to build it.
I didn't remember that they had built a new courthouse a few years ago, so I just walked into the same one I went to in the 80s. went through the whole metal detector/wanding thing then the deputy asked me where I was going.
I replied and he said I was in the wrong place. The right place was across the street.