Anyone who has ever been involved in a lawsuit already knows there is a good deal of legal jargon used by attorneys. While it’s not necessary to memorize definitions for every technical term, it can be helpful for readers who are considering filing a personal injury suit to familiarize themselves with some of the most common words and phrases used by Accident Lawyers Close To Beaver Dam. Read on to find a brief glossary that covers a few of the most important of them to get started.
Assumption of Risk
This term refers to situations in which people voluntarily proceed with a risk despite obvious danger. When this occurs, those assuming the risk are not generally able to seek monetary damages from other parties even if they may believe them to be responsible.
Personal Injury Claim
A personal injury claim is a civil action that is either filed by a victim or by another person on his or her behalf. Its goal is to establish that the negligence of the defendant directly caused physical or mental harm.
Negligence and Gross Negligence
When Accident Lawyers Close To Beaver Dam talk about negligence, they’re using the word in a very specific context. In civil law, the term negligence refers to conduct that fails to meet legal standards of care established for the protection of others. Gross negligence refers to an intentional failure to meet reasonable standards of duty and is sometimes also referred to as willful negligence.
Proximate Cause
A proximate cause is a primary reason that an injury has occurred. Had the cause not been present, the injury or accident wouldn’t have occurred. However, the injury in question must be a foreseeable consequence of the misdeed for it to be considered a proximate cause.
Standard of Care
This term is used most frequently in medical malpractice cases but can be applied to most personal injury cases. It refers to the level of care a reasonable person would apply under similar circumstances. If this standard is not met, the person whose negligence caused the injury may be held liable for damages.
Learn More Today
Readers who are wondering whether they have reason to file a personal injury suit should always schedule a consultation with a lawyer. Click here to learn about one law office that can help today. You can also visit them on Google My Business.
