Personal Injury Term Library
Navigating the legal landscape of personal injury cases can be complex, especially when faced with unfamiliar terminology. As you explore the world of personal injury law, learning common terms can empower you to make informed decisions, communicate effectively with your attorney, and confidently navigate the legal process.
Our Personal Injury Legal Glossary is designed to be a helpful resource for individuals seeking clarity on acronyms and jargon used in the realm of personal injury law. Whether you’re involved in a legal dispute, considering filing a claim, or simply want to understand your rights, this glossary provides concise definitions that demystify key concepts.
A
Accident Report
A formal document detailing the circumstances, causes, and consequences of an incident. Usually...
Learn MoreAdmissible Evidence
Evidence that a party or their legal representative can introduce in a court...
Learn MoreAffidavit
Printed/written statement of facts an individual makes under oath.
Learn MoreAlternative Dispute Resolution
Settling a case through arbitration, mediation, or other means without going to trial....
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The legal name for the defendant’s response to the complaint. This formal written...
Learn MoreAttorney-Client Privilege
Communications between clients and their legal representatives are confidential. Protecting the privacy between...
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B
Bad Faith Claim
A legal action asserting that an insurer has unreasonably or intentionally failed to...
Learn MoreBellwether Trial
A case selected as a test to gauge potential outcomes for similar lawsuits,...
Learn MoreBodily Injury
Physical harm or damage inflicted on a person’s body, often resulting from accidents,...
Learn MoreBurden of Proof
This refers to the threshold of certainty required to prove something in court...
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C
Causation
The link between the defendant’s actions and the plaintiff’s injury establishes that the...
Learn MoreClaim
A formal request made by a policyholder to their insurance company seeking compensation...
Learn MoreClaim Adjuster
A claim adjuster is a professional employed by an insurance company to assess...
Learn MoreClass Action Lawsuit
A legal action filed by a group of people who have suffered similar...
Learn MoreClosed Head Injury
Trauma to the head, where the skull remains intact, but the brain may...
Learn MoreCollision Coverage
A type of auto insurance that covers the cost of repairing or replacing...
Learn MoreComparative Fault
A system where each party in an auto accident is assigned a percentage...
Learn MoreCompensable Injury
A compensable injury can refer to a work-related injury or illness for which...
Learn MoreCompensation
Monetary payment awarded to a person who has suffered harm or loss due...
Learn MoreComplaint
Initial document in a civil action filed by the plaintiff. The complaint and...
Learn MoreComprehensive Coverage
A type of auto insurance that provides protection against non-collision events, such as...
Learn MoreConcussion
A traumatic brain injury, resulting from a sudden impact or blow to the...
Learn MoreContingency Fee
A fee arrangement where the attorney is paid only if the case is...
Learn MoreContusion
A bruise or injury to tissue, often referring to the brain, caused by...
Learn MoreCoverage
The extent and amount of insurance that pays to replace a loss.
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D
Damages
Compensation awarded by the court to the injured party. Can come in one...
Learn MoreDefendant
The party a lawsuit is brought against–the opposite of a plaintiff.
Learn MoreDemand Letter
A formal written communication from one party to another that typically outlines grievances,...
Learn MoreDeposition
A deposition is a pre-trial process where witnesses provide sworn testimony outside of...
Learn MoreDiscovery
Pre-trial evidence gathering to divulge information relevant to the case. Disclosure is the...
Learn MoreDistracted Driving
An activity that diverts a driver’s visual, manual, or cognitive attention from the...
Learn MoreDriving Under the Influence (DUI)
A criminal offense involving operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs,...
Learn MoreDuty of Care
A legal obligation requiring individuals or entities to exercise reasonable care to prevent...
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E
Economic Damages
Cover actual losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
Learn MoreExpert Witness
A witness with expertise in scientific, technical, or professional matters who can speak...
Learn MoreEyewitness
A person who directly observes an event and can testify about it in...
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F
Fault
Liability for an accident or injury. Application of fault is subject to state...
Learn MoreFault
An insurance system where the driver responsible for the crash is responsible for...
Learn MoreField Adjuster
An insurance professional who assesses and investigates claims on-site, often evaluating damages and...
Learn MoreFirst-Party Claims
Insurance claims filed by policyholders against their own insurance company seeking compensation for...
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G
Good Faith
Sincere intentions and truthful actions in contractual or legal matters. Often used to...
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H
Hazard
A condition or circumstance that increases the likelihood of loss or injury. In...
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I
Insurance
A contractual arrangement providing financial protection against specified risks called covered losses. The...
Learn MoreInterrogatories
Written questions exchanged between parties in a legal proceeding and answered under oath....
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J
Judgment
A final decision or court order determining the outcome and liabilities of parties...
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L
Lawsuit
A legal action or proceeding initiated by a party to seek resolution or...
Learn MoreLetter of Protection
A document from an attorney to a medical provider guaranteeing payment from a...
Learn MoreLiability
Legal and financial responsibility for one’s actions or omissions that result in harm...
Learn MoreLiability Coverage
Provides financial protection to the insured party in the event they are found...
Learn MoreLoss of Earnings / Lost Income
A category of compensation sought for lost earnings or wages that a plaintiff...
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M
Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)
The point in medical treatment where a patient’s condition is stabilized and further...
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A formal request made to a court seeking a specific ruling or action...
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N
Named Insured
The individual or entity explicitly identified as the primary policyholder in an insurance...
Learn MoreNegligence
Failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would have...
Learn MoreNegotiation
The process of reaching an agreement through discussion and compromise, often employed in...
Learn MoreNo-Fault
An insurance system where each driver’s auto insurance coverage pays for their own...
Learn MoreNon-Economic Damages
Awards for harm done to the injured party that does not have an...
Learn MoreNotary
A public official authorized to witness and authenticate the signing of legal documents,...
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O
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Costs incurred by an individual that are not covered by insurance, requiring direct...
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P
Paralegal
A legal professional trained to assist lawyers in various tasks, such as research,...
Learn MorePenetrating Brain Injury
Trauma that occurs when an object pierces the skull and enters the brain,...
Learn MorePersonal Injury
Physical or psychological harm caused to an individual, leading to legal claims seeking...
Learn MorePersonal Injury Protection (PIP)
A type of auto insurance coverage that pays for medical expenses and lost...
Learn MorePlaintiff
The party initiating a legal action or lawsuit, typically seeking compensation or redress...
Learn MorePost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after...
Learn MorePre-Existing Condition
A medical condition that existed before an accident or injury occurred, which could...
Learn MorePremises
Land, houses, structures, and outbuildings that form a property, often relevant in cases...
Learn MoreProduct Liability
Legal responsibility of manufacturers or sellers for injuries or damages caused by defective...
Learn MorePrognosis
A doctor’s anticipated outcome for a patient’s medical condition, often considered in personal...
Learn MoreProximate Cause
Proximate causation is a legal term that is used to define when someone’s...
Learn MorePunitive Damages
Punitive damages are monetary awards granted in legal cases to punish a defendant...
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Q
Quality of Life
The overall well-being and satisfaction experienced by an individual, often considered in personal...
Learn MoreQuid Pro Quo
A Latin term meaning “this for that;” a reciprocal exchange between parties for...
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R
Rehabilitation
The process of restoring an individual’s physical or mental abilities through therapy or...
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S
Settlement
An agreement between parties to resolve a legal dispute, usually involving a payment of...
Learn MoreSlip and Fall
A type of personal injury case where an individual is injured on someone...
Learn MoreStatute of Limitations
The time limit within which a legal action must be filed. The time...
Learn MoreStrict Liability
Legal responsibility for an injury or damage, regardless of fault or negligence.
Learn MoreSubpoena
A legal order compelling an individual to appear in court as a witness...
Learn MoreSubrogation
The process by which an insurance company recovers benefits they have paid to...
Learn MoreSummary Judgment
A court decision that rules there is insufficient evidence to permit the claim...
Learn MoreSummons
A legal document notifying an individual of a lawsuit and requiring their appearance...
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T
Third-Party Claims
Legal actions against parties other than the employer in a workers’ compensation case,...
Learn MoreTort
A civil wrong or wrongful act, whether intentional or accidental, that causes harm...
Learn MoreTraumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
A type of brain injury that occurs when an outside force causes neurological...
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U
Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM)
Auto insurance coverage that provides additional compensation if the at-fault driver’s insurance is...
Learn MoreUninsured Motorist Coverage (UIM)
Auto insurance coverage that compensates the policyholder for injuries caused by a driver...
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V
Verdict
The formal decision or finding of a judge or jury at the end...
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W
Witness
Someone who gives testimony to support a plaintiff or defendant’s case.
Learn MoreWorker’s Compensation
No-fault insurance providing medical benefits and wage replacement to workers injured on the...
Learn MoreWrongful Death
A legal claim asserting that someone’s death was caused by the negligence or...
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