Glossary of Personal Injury Law Terms
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- F - 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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