Personal Injury Legal Glossary 

Understanding the personal injury world can be daunting for a lot of reasons but one primary reason is the jargon involved. Many of the words that are common in the industry are not used in typical conversation or are used to mean something very specific.

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Here is a list of words and terms commonly used in our line of work and what they mean.

• Accident: An unplanned event that causes harm or damage to someone or something.
• Adjudication: The legal process of resolving a dispute or making a decision on a matter in court.
• Affidavit: A written statement that is made under oath, typically for use as evidence in court.
• Appeal: A request to a higher court to review and possibly overturn a lower court's decision.
• Bodily injury: Physical harm or damage to a person's body, including injuries, illnesses, and death.
• Compensatory damages: Monetary damages awarded to a plaintiff to compensate for actual losses or injuries suffered as a result of the defendant's actions.
• Contingency fee: A type of payment arrangement where an attorney is paid a percentage of the damages awarded to the client in a personal injury case.
• Damages: Compensation or payment claimed or awarded in a civil lawsuit to compensate someone for a loss or injury.
• Deposition: A pre-trial process where a witness is questioned under oath, usually in the presence of a court reporter, about their knowledge of the case.
• Evidence: Information presented in court to support a claim or defend against a charge.
• Liability: Legal responsibility for injury or damage.
• Negligence: Failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would use in a similar situation, resulting in harm to another person.
• Personal injury: Physical or emotional harm or damage suffered by a person as the result of someone else's actions or failure to act.
• Plaintiff: The person who initiates a lawsuit by filing a complaint against another party.
• Settlement: A resolution of a dispute between two parties in which they agree to end the matter by giving or receiving something in exchange, typically without going to trial.
• Statute of limitations: A time limit for bringing a legal action, beyond which a person can no longer pursue a claim.

If you’re looking for help with a legal claim regarding personal injury, contact us and let Corry Law help you.

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