Accident Report: A formal document detailing the facts and circumstances of an accident, often used in legal and insurance proceedings.
Actual Damages: Compensation for actual losses suffered by the plaintiff, including medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
Assumption of Risk: A legal doctrine under which an individual is not entitled to recover for injuries sustained from risks they have knowingly and voluntarily assumed.
ATV Accident: An incident involving an all-terrain vehicle, often resulting in injuries due to the vehicle’s instability and off-road use.
Arbitration: A method of dispute resolution where an impartial third party makes a binding decision.
Appeal: An appeal is a legal process in which a party requests a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court.
B
Bodily Injury: Physical harm to a person’s body, including cuts, bruises, broken bones, and internal injuries.
Boating Accident: An incident involving watercraft that results in injury, death, or property damage.
Burden of Proof: The obligation to present evidence to support one’s claim, typically resting on the plaintiff in personal injury cases.
C
Car Accident: A collision involving one or more vehicles, potentially causing injury, death, or property damage.
Comparative Negligence: A legal principle that reduces the plaintiff’s damages award by the percentage of fault attributed to them.
Compensatory Damages: Financial compensation awarded to a plaintiff to cover actual losses and suffering.
Catastrophic Injury: Severe injuries that have long-term or permanent effects, such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries.
Contingency Fee: A contingency fee is a payment arrangement where a lawyer only receives a fee if the case is won or settled favorably, typically taking a percentage of the awarded amount.
D
Defendant: The party being sued in a legal proceeding.
Dram Shop Liability: Legal responsibility of establishments serving alcohol for harm that intoxicated patrons cause to others.
Duty of Care: A legal obligation to act in a reasonable manner to avoid causing harm to others.
Defamation: A false statement presented as a fact that causes injury to a person’s reputation.
Distracted Driving: Distracted driving is the act of operating a vehicle while engaging in activities that divert attention away from driving, such as texting, eating, or using a navigation system.
E
Economic Damages: Monetary losses that can be calculated, such as medical bills, lost wages, and repair costs.
Emotional Distress: Psychological suffering caused by an incident, which may be compensable in personal injury claims.
Exemplary Damages: Another term for punitive damages, intended to punish the defendant and deter future misconduct.
Expert Witness: An expert witness is a specialist with expertise in a particular field who provides testimony in a court case to help the judge or jury understand complex issues related to their expertise.
F
Fault: Legal responsibility for an accident or injury.
Full Tort: Legal option that allows the injured party to seek compensation for all damages, including pain and suffering, without restrictions.
G
Gross Negligence: Severe lack of care that shows a reckless disregard for the safety or lives of others.
H
Hazardous Conditions: Dangerous situations that can cause accidents, often relevant in slip and fall or premises liability cases.
I
Insurance Adjuster: A professional who evaluates insurance claims to determine the extent of the insuring company’s liability.
Intentional Tort: A wrongful act done on purpose that causes harm to another person.
Independent Medical Examination (IME): An evaluation performed by a doctor not previously involved in the treatment to assess injury claims.
J
Joint and Several Liability: A legal doctrine that allows a plaintiff to recover full damages from any of the defendants, regardless of their individual share of liability.
L
Liability: Legal responsibility for one’s actions or inactions.
Loss of Consortium: Compensation awarded for the loss of companionship and support of a spouse due to injury.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation for the diminished ability to enjoy day-to-day activities due to injuries.
Litigation: Litigation is the process of taking legal action through the courts to resolve a dispute between parties.
M
Medical Malpractice: Professional negligence by a healthcare provider that leads to substandard treatment, resulting in harm to a patient.
Motorcycle Accident: A collision involving a motorcycle that can result in severe injuries due to the lack of protection for riders.
Mediation: A voluntary process where a neutral third party helps disputing parties reach a mutually agreeable solution.
N
Negligence: Failure to take reasonable care to avoid causing injury or loss to another person.
Negligence Per Se: An act considered negligent because it violates a law or statute.
Negotiation: Negotiation is the process by which two or more parties communicate and compromise to reach a mutually acceptable agreement or resolve a dispute.
O
Occupational Injury: Injuries that occur in the workplace or during work-related activities.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Out-of-pocket expenses are costs that individuals pay directly from their own funds, typically for medical treatment or other services, which are not reimbursed by insurance or other sources.
P
Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical and emotional distress resulting from an injury.
Pedestrian Accident: An incident where a pedestrian is injured by a vehicle or other force.
Punitive Damages: Financial compensation awarded to punish the defendant for particularly egregious conduct and deter similar behavior in the future.
Permanent Disability: Long-term or lifelong impairment resulting from an injury.
Plaintiff: A plaintiff is the person or party who initiates a lawsuit by filing a complaint against another party, known as the defendant, alleging wrongdoing or seeking legal remedy.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, characterized by symptoms such as flashbacks, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Premises Liability: Premises liability is a legal concept that holds property owners and occupiers responsible for injuries that occur on their property due to unsafe conditions or negligence.
Product Liability: Product liability is the legal responsibility of manufacturers, distributors, and sellers for injuries caused by defective or unsafe products they place on the market.
Q
Quid Pro Quo: A Latin term meaning “something for something,” often used in legal contexts to describe an exchange of goods or services.
Quantum: The amount of compensation awarded in a personal injury claim.
R
Rehabilitation: Medical and therapeutic care aimed at restoring an injured person’s health and functionality.
Retail Negligence: Legal claims arising from unsafe conditions or practices in retail establishments that result in injury to customers.
Retainer Agreement: A contract between a lawyer and client outlining the scope of services and payment details.
Reasonable Care: A legal standard used to determine whether an individual’s actions were appropriate under the circumstances.
S
Settlement: An agreement between parties to resolve a legal dispute without going to trial.
Slip and Fall: A type of accident where a person slips, trips, or falls due to unsafe conditions on someone else’s property.
Soft Tissue Injury: Injuries to muscles, ligaments, and tendons, often resulting from accidents and causing pain and mobility issues.
Statute of Limitations: The time limit within which a legal claim must be filed.
Standard of Care: The “standard of care” is a legal concept used in personal injury and medical malpractice cases to determine whether a defendant acted negligently.
Strict Liability: A legal doctrine that holds a party responsible for their actions or products without the need for proving negligence or fault.
T
Truck Accident: A collision involving large commercial vehicles, often leading to significant injuries and damages due to the size and weight of the trucks.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A type of brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head, potentially leading to significant and lasting effects.
U
Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Insurance that covers costs exceeding the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Insurance that covers costs if the at-fault driver has no insurance.
V
Vicarious Liability: Legal responsibility assigned to one party for the actions of another, such as an employer being liable for the actions of an employee.
Verdict: The final decision made by a jury or judge in a court case.
W
Wrongful Death: A legal claim arising from a death caused by someone else’s negligence or intentional act.
Workers’ Compensation: Insurance providing medical benefits and wage replacement to employees injured in the course of employment.
Y
Yielding: The legal duty to allow another vehicle or pedestrian to proceed first to avoid an accident.
While our personal injury law firm is based in Indiana, we can assist with cases nationwide through partnerships with trusted attorneys. We will help coordinate your injury claim to ensure you receive the representation and compensation you deserve. Give us a call today at 1‑800‑265‑9881.
