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Glossary of Personal Injury Law Terms
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Legal Glossaries Main Page
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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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