Involved in an auto insurance

Action:
Proceeding taken in a court of law. Synonymous with case, suit, lawsuit.

Additional Insured:
A person other than the named insured or covered person who is protected under the named insured's auto policy.

Basic Limits of Liability:
The least amount of liability coverage that can be purchased. In determining rates, a carrier will use the basic limits to develop the base rates. If an insured person wants higher limits, the carrier applies an increased limits factor to the base rate in calculating the new premium for the increased coverage.

Best evidence:
Primary evidence; the best evidence which is available; any evidence falling short of this standard is secondary.

Case:
Any proceeding, action, cause, lawsuit or controversy initiated through the court system by filing a complaint, petition, indictment or information.

Caseload:
The number of cases a judge handles in a specific time period.

Cause of action:
A legal claim.

Damages:
Compensation recovered in the courts by a person who has suffered loss, detriment or injury to his/her person, property or rights, through the unlawful act or negligence of another.

Defense attorney:
The attorney who represents the defendant.

Felony:
Crime of grave nature than a misdemeanor.

Fine:
A sum of money imposed upon a convicted person as punishment for a criminal offense.

File:
"To file" a paper is to give it to the court clerk for inclusion in the case record.

Hearing:
An in-court proceeding before a judge, generally open to the public.

Hearsay:
Evidence based on what the witness has heard someone else say, rather than what the witness has personally experienced or observed.

Hit and Run:
An accident caused by someone who does not stop to assist or provide the required and necessary information.

Lawsuit:
A civil action; a court proceeding to enforce a right (rather than to convict a criminal).

Lawyer:
A person licensed to practice law; other words for "lawyer" include: attorney, counsel, solicitor and barrister.

Litigant:
One who is engaged in a lawsuit.

Litigation:
A law suit.

Misdemeanor:
Criminal offenses less than felonies; generally those punishable by fine or imprisonment of less than 90 days in a local facility. A gross misdemeanor is a criminal offense for which an adult could be sent to jail for up to one year, pay a fine up to $5,000 or both.

Personal Injury Protection:
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) usually includes benefits for medical expenses, loss of income from work, essential services, accidental death, funeral expenses, and survivor benefits.

Petition:
Written application to a court requesting a remedy available under law.

Petition for review:
A document filed in the state Supreme Court asking for a review of a decision made by the Court of Appeals.

Record:
1. To preserve in writing, print or by film, tape, etc.
2. History or a case.
3. The word-for-word written or tape recorded account of all proceedings of a trial.

Rebuttal:
The introduction of contradicting or opposing evidence showing that what witnesses said occurred is not true, the stage of a trial at which such evidence may be introduced.

Settlement:
Conclusion of a legal matter.

Settlement conference:
A meeting between parties of a lawsuit, their counsel and a judge to attempt a resolution of the dispute without trial.

Trial:
The presentation of evidence in court to a trier of facts who applies the applicable law to those facts and then decides the case.

Verdict:
Formal decision made by a judge or jury (trier of facts)।