Adjuster
A person who investigates or handles an insurance claim for an insurer or another represented interest. Identify whom the adjuster represents.
Insurance contacts guide →Searchable legal vocabulary
Personal injury claim glossary
Insurance conversations and civil lawsuits use overlapping language. Search by term or filter by the stage where the language tends to appear.
17 terms
Claim
A request asserting a right to payment, benefits, or another remedy. An insurance claim is not the same thing as a filed lawsuit.
Follow the claim route →Complaint
A court filing that starts a civil action by stating the plaintiff’s allegations, basis for the court’s authority, and requested relief.
Settlement versus lawsuit →Damages
Money claimed or awarded for legally recognized harm. The categories and proof required depend on the governing law and facts.
Documenting losses →Defendant
The person or organization against whom a civil lawsuit is brought.
Demand
A communication proposing that another party or insurer take specified action, often supported by facts and records. A demand is not a court judgment.
Deposition
Testimony given under oath before trial, usually recorded in a transcript as part of discovery.
Depositions explained →Discovery
The formal process in a lawsuit for exchanging information and obtaining evidence under applicable procedural rules and court orders.
Civil discovery explained →Lien
A legal claim or asserted right against property or funds. Whether a lien is valid and how it is resolved are jurisdiction- and fact-specific.
Mediation
A process in which a neutral person helps parties discuss possible resolution but generally does not impose a decision.
Mediation guide →Motion
A request asking a court to issue an order or ruling in a pending case.
Plaintiff
The person or entity that starts a civil lawsuit.
Policy limit
The maximum amount an insurance policy states it will pay for a covered loss or category, subject to all policy terms and applicable law.
Release
An agreement giving up specified claims or rights. Its effect depends on its actual language and governing law.
Settlement
An agreement resolving some or all disputed issues. It may occur before or after a lawsuit is filed.
Settlement versus lawsuit →Statute of limitations
A law setting a time limit for bringing a type of legal action. The calculation can depend on jurisdiction, claim type, accrual rules, and exceptions.
Deadline questions →Subrogation
A claimed right of one party, often an insurer, to recover amounts it paid from another responsible source.
Definitions were written for this directory and checked against the U.S. Courts civil-case overview and glossary. State law and particular documents may define terms differently. Reviewed September 2026. Sources: Civil Cases and Glossary of Legal Terms.