Jargon Buster
***This post is out of date to see an updated list of terms please visit our Glossary**
Thankfully we are not involved in accidents every day, so it’s not surprising when it comes to be making a personal injury claim we can often feel overwhelmed by the whirlwind of legal jargon that is used. Have a look at our jargon buster for a straightforward explanation of some of the most common terms.
Minster Law is with you every step of the way, if you have any questions regarding your claim please contact us 0345 600 6980
| Claimant | The person making a claim, the innocent party. |
| Defendant | The person who the claim is brought against, the person at fault. Often referred to as the other or third party |
| Third Party | The third party is often referred to as the person at fault. In multiple vehicle collisions there may be more than one potential third party. |
| Third Party Insurer
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The third-party insurer are the ones who have issued the third parties’ insurance and they will be responsible for payment of damages and |
| Liability Admitted | Liability admitted means the third party accept responsibility for the injuries. |
| Liability Denied | Liability denied means the third party do not accept responsibility for the injuries. |
| Limitation | An adult over the age of 18 at the time of the accident, have 3 years from the accident date to settle a claim or alternatively issue court proceeding to stop the case going over the limitation period. |
| Infant Limitation | Where a child (under the age of 18) has been involved in an accident their 3-year limitation period will expire on their 21st birthday. |
| Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) | A CFA is a legal funding agreement, where you only pay for your solicitor’s work if your case is successful. |
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General Damages |
General damages refer to the compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity, this will be set out in the medical report. |
| Special Damages | Special damages refer to any additional expenditure, some examples would be, loss of earnings, medication or travel expenses. |
| Litigation Friend
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A litigation friend is someone who acts on behalf of someone under the age of 18 or someone who lacks mental capacity in bringing forward their injury claim. |
| Fee Earner or File Handler | A fee earner or file handler is a term used to describe the person who is carrying out work on your claim. |
