Personal injury legal glossary
Plain-language explanations for terms you may hear while researching an injury claim. Definitions are general; state law and policy wording can change the answer for a particular case.
3 terms shown
ClaimsDamagesShow definition
Money sought or awarded for legally recognized harm. Depending on the claim and state law, this may include documented financial losses and certain non-economic losses.
ClaimsNegligenceShow definition
A failure to use the care the law requires under the circumstances. A negligence claim also requires proof of causation and legally recognized harm.
ClaimsSettlementShow definition
An agreement to resolve a dispute. Its exact terms, including any release of claims, should be reviewed before acceptance.
Definitions are educational summaries and are not legal advice. Follow each source link for more context and ask a qualified local lawyer about your circumstances.