If you’ve sustained a personal injury, you’re likely trying to figure out what certain legal jargon means like statute of limitations, negligence, plaintiff, complaint, and more. Understanding what these terms mean will help you better understand your personal injury case! Allow us to explain eight common personal injury legal terms:

Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations refers to the amount of time you have in the legal system to make a claim against a negligent party.

Negligence

Negligence occurs when a responsible party acts carelessly or fails to act and, by doing so, causes an injury. A personal injury claim must have four elements present – duty, breach, causation, and damages.

Complaint

A legal complaint is a formal statement with regards to the accusation.

Plaintiff

The plaintiff is the person or party who issues the legal complaint.

Defendant

The defendant is the person or party who receives the legal complaint. This individual may be responsible for the plaintiff’s injury.

Answer

The defendant must respond to the plaintiff’s complaint by issuing a formal answer to the court. Answering the complaint has a statute of limitations.

Burden of Proof

In a personal injury lawsuit, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant is responsible for the injury due to his negligence.

Damages

Damages refer to the amount of money the plaintiff is seeking. However, it’s important to note that economic and non-economic damages exist. Economic damages can be calculated – for example, medical bills, lost income, or therapy. Non-economic damages are harder to quantify – for example, pain and suffering or mental health issues.

Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help!

A personal injury, whether minor or major, can turn your life upside down. The Walker, Hulbert, Gray & Moore attorneys can guide you through your recovery in the legal realm. If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, call us today: 478-987-1415