Personal Injury Legal Glossary
Glossary of Personal Injury Terms
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Fact Question: Issues in a trial
or hearing concerning facts and how they occurred, as
opposed to questions of law. Fact questions are for the
jury to decide, unless the issues are presented in a
non-jury or bench trial, in which case the judge would
decide fact questions. Questions of law are decided by a
judge. Findings of fact are generally non-appealable,
while rulings on questions of law are subject to appeal.
Family Allowance: A small amount of money set aside from
the estate of the deceased. Its purpose is to provide
for the surviving family members during the
administration of the estate.
Family Practitioner: A physician who has a general
health care practice and no specialization.
Felony: Crimes of a graver or more serious nature than
misdemeanors.
Fiduciary: A person having a legal relationship of trust
and confidence to another and having a duty to act
primarily for the others benefit, e.g., a guardian,
trustee, or executor.
File: To place a paper in the official custody of the
clerk of court/court administrator to enter into the
files or records of a case.
Final Receipt: In a workers' compensation case, it's the
form presented by the insurance carrier for the injured
employee's signature so that benefits will stop upon
return to work.
Final Judgment: The written ruling on a lawsuit by the
judge who presided at trial. This completes the case
unless it is appealed to a higher court. Also called a
final decree or final decision.
Finding: Formal conclusion by a judge or regulatory
agency on issues of fact. Also, a conclusion by a jury
regarding a fact.
First Appearance: The initial appearance of an arrested
person before a judge to determine whether or not there
is probable cause for his or her arrest. Generally the
person comes before a judge within hours of the arrest.
Also called initial appearance.
First Party Benefits: In insurance law, first party
benefits include medical benefits, income loss benefits,
accidental death benefit, funeral benefit, and
extraordinary medical benefits. In Pennsylvania, the
only required coverage is $5,000 in medical benefits.
Fracture: A break or crack in a bone.
Fraud: False and deceptive statement of fact intended to
induce another person to rely upon and, in reliance
thereof, give up a valuable thing he or she owns or a
legal right he or she is entitled to.
Full Tort Option: In Pennsylvania, purchasers of motor
vehicle insurance can choose "full tort," which gives
the insured the unrestricted right to seek money damages
for all injuries sustained in an accident caused by
another driver, including economic loss, pain and
suffering and other non-monetary damages. Compare with
limited tort option.
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