- glossary
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Glossary
I
Immunity
Immunity refers to the legal protection that prevents an individual or entity from being subject to certain lawsuits, often discussed in personal injury cases involving governmental entities or officials and determining the permissibility of filing claims against them.
Impeach
To impeach a witness in a personal injury case means to challenge their credibility, ensuring that testimonies provided are scrutinized and evaluated for accuracy and reliability, safeguarding fair and just proceedings.
Implied Consent
Implied consent pertains to an unspoken or unwritten agreement to a procedure, which might be dissected in personal injury claims to determine liability and establish whether an individual implicitly agreed to a potentially harmful situation or act.
In Camera
An in camera review involves a judge examining documents privately, without the presence of the parties, which can be relevant in personal injury cases when assessing the admissibility of certain pieces of evidence while ensuring fairness and objectivity.
In Forma Pauperis
In forma pauperis allows a person to proceed with a legal action without bearing the costs due to their inability to afford them. In personal injury law, this ensures that financial incapacity does not hinder access to justice.
In Limine
Motions in limine, made before or during trial, seek to prevent certain pieces of evidence from being presented, safeguarding against potentially prejudicial information affecting the outcome of a personal injury trial.
In Loco Parentis
In loco parentis refers to an individual acting in the role of a parent, relevant in personal injury cases involving school incidents or situations where a non-parent is entrusted with care, impacting liability determinations.
Incapacity
Incapacity involves an individual’s inability to engage in particular activities or make decisions, often due to an injury, and is pivotal in establishing the extent and implications of injuries in personal injury claims.
Income Replacement Benefits (IRBs)
IRBs provide financial compensation for lost income due to an injury, ensuring that personal injury victims are compensated for economic losses sustained as a result of their inability to work.
Incompetence
Incompetence entails an inability to perform a task adequately, potentially impacting professional negligence claims within personal injury law where a duty of competence is expected.
Indemnify
To indemnify in personal injury law means to compensate or secure against resultant loss or damage, safeguarding the financial integrity of the injured party.
Indemnity
Indemnity involves compensation provided for loss or damage, crucial in personal injury cases to ensure that victims are financially recuperated for their sustained injuries and losses.
Independent Medical Examination
An independent medical examination involves a medical assessment conducted by a non-treating physician, often utilized in personal injury cases to obtain an unbiased understanding of the victim’s injuries.
Indictment
While commonly used in criminal law, an indictment could intersect with personal injury law in cases involving intentional acts where criminal and civil liability might coexist, influencing compensatory pursuits.
Individual Liability
Individual liability concerns the personal accountability of an individual in a personal injury case, assessing their direct role and responsibility in the incident and determining suitable compensation.
Infliction of Emotional Distress
Infliction of emotional distress pertains to behavior that causes emotional suffering, analyzed in personal injury cases to ensure that the non-physical impact of an incident is considered in compensatory pursuits.
Informed Consent
Informed consent involves understanding and agreeing to potential risks of a procedure or action, frequently dissected in personal injury cases, especially those involving medical procedures, to establish liability and breach of duty.
Infringement
Infringement typically pertains to violation of rights or laws and may intersect with personal injury in instances where the violation results in harm or injury, influencing liability and compensatory determinations.
Injunction
An injunction, an order to stop an action or enforce a rule, might be sought in personal injury cases to prevent further harm or to compel actions that safeguard the interests of the injured party.
Injury
Injury refers to harm or damage inflicted upon an individual, which forms the foundational basis of claims in personal injury law, ensuring victims secure appropriate compensation for their suffering and loss.
Inquisitorial System
Although predominantly associated with criminal law, understanding the inquisitorial system, where a judge is actively involved in investigating the case, can be essential in personal injury cases that intersect with criminal acts to comprehend procedural divergences.
Insolvency
Insolvency, or the inability to meet financial obligations, can impact personal injury claims by affecting the ability of the liable party to provide compensation, potentially influencing recovery and collection strategies.
Insurance
Insurance, providing financial protection against loss, is pivotal in personal injury cases, often being a primary source of compensation for victims and affecting the strategy and negotiations of claims.
Insured
The insured, the individual protected by an insurance policy, is often the claimant in personal injury cases, with considerations regarding their coverage and policy influencing the pursuit and magnitude of claims.
Insurer
The insurer, providing insurance coverage, plays a pivotal role in personal injury cases, as claims, negotiations, and settlements are frequently directed towards them to secure compensation for the injured party.
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
Intentional infliction of emotional distress involves deliberate actions that cause emotional suffering and is actionable within personal injury law to secure compensation for the psychological impact suffered by victims.
Intentional Tort
An intentional tort involves deliberate actions that result in harm, pivotal in personal injury law to distinguish between acts of negligence and intentional wrongdoing, affecting liability and potentially impacting compensatory and punitive damages.
Interlocutory
Interlocutory refers to orders or decisions made before a case is finally decided. In a personal injury context, interlocutory appeals or orders might be addressed to ensure a fair and just progression of the case.
International Law
While predominantly a distinct field, international law might intersect with personal injury law in instances involving cross-border incidents or international entities, influencing jurisdiction and applicability of laws.
Interrogatories
Interrogatories, written questions requiring written answers, serve as a discovery tool in personal injury cases, enabling parties to garner information pertinent to the case, aiding in preparation and strategy development.
Intervening Cause
An intervening cause refers to an event that occurs after a tortfeasor's initial act of negligence and significantly contributes to the harm. It's critical in determining causation and may alter liability attributions in personal injury claims.
Intervention
Intervention allows a third party to join ongoing litigation if they hold an interest in the outcome, potentially influencing proceedings, and outcomes in personal injury cases.
Intestate
Intestate describes dying without a will, which may become relevant in personal injury claims involving wrongful death, affecting the distribution of any awarded damages and shaping financial recoveries.
Intrinsic Fraud
Intrinsic fraud involves deception that pertains to an issue in the case and may be explored in personal injury cases to ensure that proceedings and case outcomes are not tainted by deceitful actions.
Invasion of Privacy
Invasion of privacy involves unwarranted interference with one’s personal life, and when it results in harm, it may pave the way for personal injury claims, ensuring compensation for the violation and associated impacts.
Issue
An issue in personal injury law refers to a point or matter in dispute between the involved parties, and its identification, articulation, and resolution are crucial to the progression and outcome of the case.