Personal Injury Law Glossary of Common Terms
Often times you may hear a personal injury attorney or insurance company talk in “terms of the trade” which sounds like some type of abbreviation or legal jargon. It can be confusing and a little frustrating which is why I wanted to create a guide to help you understand not only what those abbreviations are bit what they mean as well. If you ever need a further explanation you welcome to reach out to me personally at (813) 598-4868. As an attorney, one of my primary goals is make sure the public is education on personal injury law so they can make the best decision regarding their case.
Answer
Accident Report
Attorney-Client Privilege
Bad Faith Claim
Burden of Proof
Bulge
“BI Limits” – Bodily Injury Limits
Used in a sentence: What are the “BI Limits”?
A personal injury attorney will request from the at-fault insurance company at the beginning of the claim what the “BI Limits” or Bodily Injury Limits are so the attorney knows how much the at-fault party has in coverage to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, attorney’s fees and other damages. There is no requirement to have bodily injury coverage in Florida.
Claims Adjuster
Collision Coverage
Comparative Fault
Complaint
Used in a sentence: My attorney filed the complaint.
Concussion
Consultation
Contingency Fee
“Dec Page” – Declaration Page
Used in a sentence: My attorney reviewed the at-fault party’s “dec page” and found they had $50,000 /$100,000 in bodily injury limit.
A declaration page shows a summary of what the coverages are. On the at-fault party’s dec page, your attorney will be looking for bodily injury coverage, rental car coverage, and liability coverage. On your dec page, your attorney will be looking to see if there is any um coverage, medpay, collision coverage, pip coverage, and rental car coverage.
Defendant
Demand Letter/ Demand Package
Deposition
Discovery
Distracted Driver
“Driver Policy”
Duty of Care
“EMC” – Emergency Medical Condition
Exhaustion of Benefits
Expert Witness
Future Medical Expenses
Health Insurance
Herniation
HIPAA Act
“IME” – Independent Medical Evaluation
Information Exchange
Insurance
Interrogatories
Judgment
Jury
Jury Instructions
Letter of Protection
Mediation
“MedPay” – Medical Payments Coverage
Motion
“MMI” – Maximum Medical Improvement
“MRI”
Negligence
No-Fault Coverage
Out-of-Pocket Expense
“Owner Policy”
Plaintiff
Post-Concussion Syndrome
“PD Coverage” – Property Damage Coverage
“PI Attorney” – Personal Injury Attorney
Used in a sentence: I hired a PI Attorney.
A PI Attorney or Personal Injury Attorney is an attorney that primarily handles negligence claims that result in injury. Negligence claims include but are not limited to auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, and wrongful death claims. PI Attorneys typically practice tort law.
“PIP Coverage” – Personal Injury Protection Coverage
“Pre-Suit”
Premise Liability
“PFS” – Proposal For Statement
Property Damage
Quality of Life
Questionable Liability
Rental Car Coverage
Statute of Limitations
Trial
“UM Limits” or “UIM Limits” – Uninsured/Underinsured Injury Limits
Used in a sentence: What are the UM Limits?
A personal injury attorney will also request the “UM Limits” or Uninsured/ Underinsured limits so the attorney knows how much the at-fault party has in coverage to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, attorney’s fees and other damages. This is optional coverage that you can purchase for yourself and your family in the case that someone causes an accident and either does not have enough coverage or does not have any coverage. This is also optional coverage but incredibly important to have in order to protect yourself.