Legal words.
Everyday meanings.
A quick place to look up the words that keep coming up.
Adjuster
A person who investigates or handles a claim for an insurance company.
Causation
The connection between someone’s conduct and the harm claimed.
Comparative fault
A way of dividing responsibility when more than one person shares blame.
Contingency fee
A lawyer’s fee tied to a recovery, under the terms of a written agreement.
Damages
Money sought or awarded for legally recognized harm.
Defendant
A person or organization being sued.
Duty of care
A legal responsibility to act with a required level of care.
Economic damages
Financial losses, such as medical costs and lost earnings.
Evidence
Information used to help establish facts.
Government claim
A formal claim presented to a public entity before certain lawsuits.
Liability
Legal responsibility.
Lien
A legal claim against property or funds; some liens may affect a settlement.
Negligence
A failure to use reasonable care that can lead to legal responsibility for harm.
Noneconomic damages
Nonfinancial losses, such as pain and loss of enjoyment of life.
Plaintiff
A person or organization bringing a lawsuit.
Policy limit
The maximum a policy pays for a covered loss, subject to its terms.
Release
An agreement giving up specified legal claims.
Settlement
Statute
Statute of limitations
A law setting a deadline to start a legal action.