§ 24-14-20 [Presumptions of Law and Fact]

In court, a "presumption" is when something is assumed to be true based on other known facts. There are two types of presumptions, and they work differently.

A presumption of law is a conclusion that the law automatically makes when certain facts are proven. For example, if a specific set of facts is established, the law may require the court to reach a specific conclusion based on those facts.

A presumption of fact is different. It is up to the jury to decide whether one fact leads to another conclusion, using common sense and everyday life experience. The jury looks at what a reasonable person would naturally conclude from the evidence presented.