Welcome to our Legal Glossary for Injury & Accident Law — your go-to guide for cutting through the legal mumbo jumbo. We’ve broken down hundreds of complicated terms like liability, negligence, and contingency fee into plain, everyday language. Whether you’re filing a claim, reading a settlement agreement, or just trying to understand what your lawyer’s saying, this glossary has your back.
If you’ve been injured and want to understand your rights, start here — knowledge is power, and clarity is the first step toward getting the help you deserve.
A
- Accident Report
- The official record made by police or authorities after an accident. It includes details like who was involved, what happened, and where.
- Adjuster (Insurance Adjuster)
- The insurance company’s person who figures out how much money your claim is “worth.” They often try to minimize payouts.
- Attorney-Client Privilege
- Whatever you tell your lawyer stays private. Your lawyer legally can’t reveal those communications without your permission.
- At-Fault
- The person or party responsible for causing the accident.
- Award
- The money you win from a lawsuit or settlement.
- Affidavit
- A written statement that someone swears is true, usually used as evidence.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Ways to settle a case without going to trial, like mediation or arbitration.
- Arbitration
- A private process where a neutral person (the “arbitrator”) hears both sides and makes a decision instead of a judge.
B
- Burden of Proof
- The responsibility to prove your side of the story in court. In injury cases, the plaintiff usually carries this burden.
- Bodily Injury
- Any physical harm to your body caused by an accident.
- Brief
- A written document lawyers file in court explaining their legal arguments and supporting evidence.
- Bad Faith (Insurance)
- When an insurance company delays, underpays, or denies a valid claim on purpose.
- Bench Trial
- A trial decided only by a judge — no jury.
- Beneficiary
- The person who receives money or benefits from insurance or a will.
C
- Claim
- The request you file with an insurance company for compensation after an injury.
- Compensation
- The money you get for losses like medical bills, pain, or lost work.
- Contingency Fee
- How most injury lawyers get paid — they only get money if you win, taking a percentage of the settlement or judgment.
- Comparative Negligence / Comparative Fault
- If both you and the other party share blame, your payout might be reduced based on your share of fault.
- Complaint
- The first legal document filed in a lawsuit explaining what happened and what the plaintiff is asking the court to do.
- Case Law
- Past court decisions that lawyers use as examples to argue their case.
- Cause of Action
- The legal reason for your lawsuit (like negligence or product liability).
- Civil Case
- A non-criminal lawsuit, such as a personal injury or property damage claim.
- Claimant
- The person filing the claim (the injured person).
- Complaint Letter
- A formal letter to an insurance company or business describing your injury and what you want done.
- Contusion
- A bruise; a common medical term you'll see in injury reports.
D
- Damages
- The money value of what you lost — physical, financial, or emotional.
- Defendant
- The person or company being sued.
- Deposition
- A recorded Q&A session where lawyers ask witnesses questions before trial.
- Duty of Care
- The responsibility everyone has to act safely and not harm others.
- Declaratory Judgment
- A court ruling that defines the rights or obligations of parties before any damages are awarded.
- Default Judgment
- If the defendant doesn’t respond to a lawsuit, the plaintiff can win by default.
- Demand Letter
- A letter sent to the at-fault party or their insurer asking for payment or settlement.
- Discovery
- The stage in a lawsuit where both sides exchange evidence, documents, and witness information.
- Disfigurement
- A permanent change to your appearance due to an injury.
E
- Evidence
- The proof you use to show what happened — photos, videos, medical records, etc.
- Expert Witness
- A specialist (like a doctor or accident reconstructionist) who gives professional opinions in your case.
- Economic Damages
- Money for measurable losses like medical bills, property damage, and lost wages.
- Emotional Distress
- Psychological suffering caused by an accident or trauma.
- Exhibit
- A document, photo, or object shown as evidence in court.
- Expert Witness (duplicate entry guard)
- A professional who provides specialized opinions. (Included earlier; kept for completeness.)
F
- Fault
- The legal term for who caused the injury.
- Filing a Lawsuit
- Officially starting a case by submitting paperwork to the court.
- Federal Court
- The court system for nationwide issues or cases between people from different states.
- Fiduciary Duty
- A legal obligation to act in someone else’s best interest (lawyers and trustees have this duty).
- First-Party Claim
- A claim you file with your own insurance company.
- Fraud
- When someone lies or hides the truth for financial gain — a serious offense in insurance and law.
G
- Gross Negligence
- More than carelessness — extremely reckless or dangerous behavior that greatly increases the risk of harm.
- Good Faith
- Acting honestly and fairly — the opposite of bad faith.
- Gross Income
- Your total income before taxes or deductions; often used when calculating lost wages.
- (Additional G terms)
- Placeholder for future G terms like "garnishment" if desired.
H
- Hazard
- Anything that could cause injury — such as a wet floor or broken step.
- Hearing
- A court session before trial where lawyers argue about specific issues or motions.
- Hearsay
- Something a witness heard from someone else, not firsthand — usually not allowed as evidence.
- Hazardous Condition
- Something unsafe on property or in a public area that can cause injury.
I
- Injury Claim
- Your official request for money after being hurt due to someone else’s fault.
- Insurance Policy
- The contract with your insurance company that explains what’s covered and what’s not.
- Interrogatories
- Written questions each side sends the other during a lawsuit to obtain information under oath.
- Impairment
- A physical or mental condition that limits normal functioning.
- Indemnity
- Protection from loss; insurance companies indemnify policyholders by paying covered losses.
- Informed Consent
- Agreeing to treatment or an action after understanding the risks and benefits.
- Intervention
- When a third party asks to join an ongoing lawsuit because they’re affected by its outcome.
J
- Judgment
- The final decision made by a judge or jury about who wins and what must be paid or done.
- Jurisdiction
- The area or court that has the legal power to hear your case.
- Jury
- A group of regular citizens who decide facts and reach a verdict in a trial.
- Joint and Several Liability
- When multiple defendants are responsible, any one of them can be required to pay the full judgment.
L
- Lawsuit
- The legal process of suing someone for damages or wrongdoing.
- Liability
- Legal responsibility for causing harm or injury.
- Litigation
- The full process of taking a case through the court system, from filing to appeal if needed.
- Loss of Consortium
- When a spouse or partner suffers loss (companionship, intimacy) because of the injured person's injuries.
- Lien
- A legal claim on part of your settlement until a debt (like medical bills) is paid off.
- Litigant
- Anyone involved in a lawsuit — the plaintiff or the defendant.
- Loss of Earnings
- Money you lost (or will lose) because you can’t work due to the injury.
M
- Mediation
- A meeting with a neutral third party who helps both sides negotiate a settlement before trial.
- Medical Malpractice
- When a doctor or healthcare worker’s mistake harms a patient.
- Mitigation
- The idea that you must try to minimize your damages (for example, by getting timely medical treatment).
- Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)
- The point where your condition can’t reasonably improve further, even with more treatment.
- Minor
- A person under 18 years old.
- Motion
- A request a lawyer files with the court during a case (for example, to dismiss evidence or delay proceedings).
- Paralegal
- A trained legal assistant who helps lawyers prepare cases.
N
- Negligence
- Failing to act with reasonable care and causing harm to someone else.
- No-Fault Insurance
- Insurance that pays for your damages regardless of who caused the accident (used in some states for car crashes).
- Negligent Entrustment
- Giving someone something dangerous (like a car) when you know they’re not capable or safe to use it.
- Notice of Claim
- A formal notification you give the party or government agency you plan to sue.
O
- Out-of-Court Settlement
- When both sides agree on a payment or action to end the case before trial.
- Occupational Injury
- An injury that happens while you’re working.
- Opening Statement
- The first speech lawyers make in court to explain what they will prove during the trial.
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses
- Costs you personally pay because of the injury (like travel to medical appointments).
P
- Pain and Suffering
- The physical and emotional distress caused by an injury.
- Plaintiff
- The person who brings a lawsuit (the injured party).
- Premises Liability
- When someone gets hurt on another person’s property due to unsafe conditions.
- Punitive Damages
- Extra money the court orders the at-fault party to pay as punishment for especially bad conduct.
- Product Liability
- When a defective product injures someone and the manufacturer, distributor, or seller can be held responsible.
- Perjury
- Lying under oath — a criminal offense.
- Physical Therapy
- Treatment to help you recover strength and movement after an injury.
- Preponderance of Evidence
- The civil standard of proof — your side must show it is more likely than not that your claims are true.
- Paralegal (duplicate guard)
- A legal assistant who prepares documents and helps lawyers; listed earlier for completeness.
R
- Release Form
- The document you sign to accept a settlement and agree not to sue again for the same issue.
- Rehabilitation
- Medical or physical therapy to help you recover after an injury.
- Reckless Driving
- Driving dangerously without regard for others’ safety.
- Remedy
- The legal fix for a wrong — usually money or an order to do or stop doing something.
- Res Ipsa Loquitur
- Latin for "the thing speaks for itself" — used when negligence is obvious from the circumstances.
- Sanctions
- Penalties imposed by the court when someone breaks rules or acts improperly during a case.
S
- Settlement
- An agreement between the parties to resolve the case, usually involving payment to the injured person.
- Statute of Limitations
- The deadline for filing your case. Miss it, and you generally lose the right to sue.
- Subpoena
- A court order requiring someone to appear or produce documents as evidence.
- Strict Liability
- Responsibility for harm even without proof of negligence (common in dangerous product or animal bite cases).
- Subrogation
- When your insurance company pursues the at-fault party to recover money it paid to you.
- Statutory Law
- Laws written and passed by legislatures, rather than created by courts through decisions.
- Slip and Fall
- A common premises liability case where someone is injured due to a dangerous condition on property.
T
- Tort
- A wrongful act (other than a crime) that causes harm and can lead to a lawsuit.
- Testimony
- What a witness says under oath during a deposition or trial.
- Traumatic Injury
- A serious injury caused by sudden physical impact (for example, crash injuries or severe falls).
- Third-Party Claim
- A claim you make against someone else’s insurance (for example, the other driver’s insurer after a crash).
- Transcript
- The written record of everything said in court or at a deposition.
- Trial
- The formal process where both sides present their evidence and arguments before a judge or jury.
V
- Verdict
- The decision made by the jury about who wins and how much money is awarded, if any.
- Vicarious Liability
- When someone is held responsible for another person's actions (for example, an employer for an employee).
- Voir Dire
- The process of questioning potential jurors to choose an impartial jury for trial.
W
- Witness
- Someone who saw or knows something about the incident and can provide information or testimony.
- Workers’ Compensation
- A type of insurance that pays workers who are injured on the job, regardless of fault in many cases.
- Wrongful Death
- A lawsuit filed when someone dies because of another person’s negligence or wrongdoing.
- Waiver
- Giving up a right or claim, usually by signing a document that acknowledges the waiver.
- Writ
- A formal court order requiring someone to do or not do something.
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