When navigating the unknown, such as personal injury law, it is important to be aware of simple vocabulary terms to assist in understanding before beginning any case.
Basic Terms
Some basic and essential vocabulary terms for personal injury law are:
Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitations is the time period (set by law) in which you may file suit claiming damages. The statute of limitations can vary from case to case depending upon the circumstances and can vary from as little as one year to as long as ten or more in civil suits.
Negligence
Negligence is a tort arising from carelessness or the failure to act with reasonable care when such conduct causes damage to the person or property of another.
Burden of Proof
The burden of proof refers to the plaintiff’s obligation to prove his or her allegations to be true — or at least more likely true than not.
Damages
Damages are what a plaintiff is seeking to recover in a lawsuit. In a personal injury suit, damages equal money. Damages are separated into two categories, economic damages and non-economic damages.
Contributory Negligence
In North Carolina, if you contribute to an accident—even one percent—you are barred from recovery. In South Carolina, a recovery may still be possible, but reduced by the percentage of fault you may have.
No-fault
No-fault is a legal theory most commonly applied in auto accident personal injury cases. States that have adopted no-fault laws require that every auto owner to carry a minimum amount of personal injury protection (PIP) insurance.
In the event of damages caused by an auto accident, the injured party collects from their own insurance company rather than filing a lawsuit.
How King Law Can Help You
Personal Injury cases can range from minor accidents to fatalities. These cases may be difficult to navigate and are time-intensive when working to reach a settlement. You don’t have to navigate this alone. King Law’s attorneys are here to help you gather medical records, negotiate with insurance companies and reach a settlement to get money in your hands. We will take your case to litigation when necessary. If your accident happened in North Carolina or South Carolina, our team is here to help you. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys and can be reached at 888-748-5464(KING). King Law has offices in both North and South Carolina. We will work with you by phone and from one of our locations most convenient for you.