Law I

Chapter 18

Torts: A Civil Wrong

Pages 210 - 229

Key Terms

Tort

Plaintiff

Judgment

Defendant

Damages

Liable

Remedy

More Key Terms

Liability

Settlement

Common Law

Intentional Wrong

Negligence

Strict Liability

Defense

Even More Terms

Civil Law

Minor

Immune

Waive

Class Action

Contingency Fee

Liability Insurance

They Keep Going

Contract

Premiums

Malpractice

Medical Coverage

Collision Coverage

Deductible

Comprehensive Coverage

Four More – 32 Terms

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

No-fault Insurance

Exclusive Remedy

Worker’s Compensation Insurance

Tort

A breach of some obligation causing harm or injury to someone. A civil wrong, such as negligence or libel.

Plaintiff

In a civil case, the injured party who brings an action against an alleged wrongdoer.

Judgment

A court’s decision in a case.

Defendant

The person against whom a claim is made.

In a civil suit, the defendant is the person being sued.

In a criminal case, the defendant is the person charged with committing a crime.

Damages

1) The injuries or losses suffered by one person due to the fault of another.

2) Money asked for or paid (by a court order) for the injuries or losses suffered.

Liable

Legally responsible.

If a person gets injured on a bus while attending a school sponsored activity, the school is held liable for injuries or damages.

Remedy

What is done to compensate for an injury or to enforce some right.

Liability

Legal responsibility, the obligation to do or not do something. The defendant in a torts case incurs liability for failing to use reasonable care, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.

Settlement

A mutual agreement between two sides in a lawsuit, made before the case goes to trial, that settles or ends the dispute.

Common Law

A system in which court decisions establish legal principles and rules of law.

Intentional Wrong

Actions taken deliberately to harm another person or his or her property.

Negligence

The failure to exercise a reasonable amount of care in either doing or not doing something, resulting in harm or injury.

Strict Liability

The legal responsibility for damage or injury even if you are not at fault.

Defense

A denial answer or plea disputing the correctness of the charges against the defendant.

Civil Law

All law that does not involve criminal matters.

Civil Law usually deals with private rights of individuals, groups or businesses.

Minor

A child: a person under the legal age of adulthood. (usually 18 or 21)

Immune

Being free form or protected from some legal action, such as being sued.

Waive

To give up some right, privilege, or benefit voluntarily.

Class Action

A lawsuit brought up by one or more persons on behalf of a larger group.

Contingency Fee

The fee paid to an attorney based on the sum awarded to his, her client in a lawsuit.

Liability Insurance

The type of coverage or insurance that pays for injuries to other people or damage to property if the individual insured is responsible for the accident.

Contract

A legally enforceable agreement between two or more people.

Premiums

In insurance, payments made for coverage.

Malpractice

Failure to meet acceptable standards of practice in a professional or official position; often the basis for lawsuits by clients or patients against their attorney or doctor.

Medical Coverage

When dealing with insurance, that which covers an individual’s own medical expenses resulting from accidents.

Collision

Insurance that pays for damages caused by an automobile collision.

Deductible

A paragraph in the insurance policy stating that before the insurer will pay for a loss, the insured must pay a certain amount. For example, if the deductible on a policy is $500 and the accident results in repairs costing $1,500, the insured person pays the first $500 and the insurance company pays the remaining $1,000.

Comprehensive Coverage

The portion of an insurance policy that protects an individual against automobile damages or losses. It does not cover damages or losses caused by a collision. It does cover damages or losses caused by such things such as fire, vandalism, or theft.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Insurance that protects drivers from those with no insurance or inadequate insurance.

Worker’s Compensation Insurance

A system of compensating employees who are injured on the job. These benefits are paid no matter who caused the accident or injury.

No Fault Insurance

A form of automobile or accident insurance in which each person’s insurance company pays a certain share of damages, regardless of fault.

Exclusive Remedy

The only solution, or compensation available to a plaintiff in a particular legal situation.

You are done with Chapter 18!