Legal Terms & Definitions

Grossman Law Offices Legal Glossary

Attorneys make liberal use of legal terms and often times non-attorneys are left scratching their heads. Our attorneys created this glossary of legal terms to clarify any terms used in this website and throughout the scope of our legal practice. While there are thousands of legal terms used in the legal world, this legal term glossary is personal-injury specific. If you come across a term that you are not familiar with that is not referenced in this legal glossary, just give our attorneys a call and we will be glad to explain it to you in plain English.

Find the term you are looking for by selecting the first letter of that word:

A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P R S T V W

Accident: Everyone is familiar with the term accident however it is frequently used in the legal world to mean to refer to the events that resulted in an injury or property damage. This is bit of a misnomer as many of these events are technically not an "accident" in the classical sense of the word, rather they are often the result of negligence or a series of mistakes.

Accomplice: Someone who voluntarily participates with another in a criminal act.

Acquit: To find a defendant not guilty in a criminal trial.

Action: A formal suit or complaint brought in court.

Additur: A judge's increase in the amount of damages awarded by a jury.

Adjudication: Giving a judgment.

Ad Litem: For the purposes of the lawsuit.

Adversary Proceeding: Legal proceeding involving parties with opposing interests, with one party seeking legal relief and the other opposing it.

Affiant: A person who creates and signs an affidavit.

Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it.

Alternative Dispute Resolution: Settling a dispute outside of trial (mediation, conciliation, arbitration, and settlement, etc).

Appellate Court: A court having jurisdiction to hear an appeal and review the decisions of a lower court.

Arbitration: A form of alternative dispute resolution in which the parties bring their dispute to a neutral third party and agree to abide by his or her decision.

Arbitrator: A person who conducts an arbitration.

Attestation: Acting as a witness while another person or persons signs legal documents.

Automobile Accident: A general term that describes any variety of events whereby one or more motor vehicles collide violently with other vehicles or other objects. Our experienced team of automobile accident attorneys can help you understand how to make the most of your legal rights.


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