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We understand that legal jargon can be confusing. Below are some common personal injury acronyms, abbreviations, and definitions that you should know.
AFB: Application for Benefits – An application that comes from your auto insurance company for you to complete to receive no-fault or PIP benefits. You will need to complete this application in order to access your benefits.
AOS: Affidavit of Service – A legal document usually delivered by a third party or law enforcement offices to notify the additional parties that they and their insurance are involved in a legal matter.
BI: Bodily Injury – A type of car insurance that helps to pay for others’ injuries. A BI claim is a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance. In Minnesota, BI insurance has minimum required limits of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident.
DOB: Date of Birth – The date an individual was born.
DOL: Date of Loss – The date the collision occurred.
EOB: Explanation of Benefits – A letter from your insurance company to explain why they paid for some or all of your medical bills.
EOR: Explanation of Remittance – A letter from your insurance company to explain why they did not pay for your medical bills.
F&F: Full and Final – The full and final check received from the insurance company. Usually indicates the end of the case.
FCL: File Closed Letters – Notifying you that the case has been completed, and your file is closed but will be retained for seven (7) years.
FP: First Priority – First insurance to receive the outstanding medical bill and should be the first one to pay the bill while benefits are still active and available.
HI: Health Insurance – The insurance you have to cover medical treatments. This is a secondary priority to your auto insurance for medical payments related to a collision.
IME: Independent Medical Examination – An exam usually requested by your auto insurance and conducted by a doctor of their choosing to determine your overall injuries and the ongoing status of the case. These are usually adverse to your case and will cut off benefits. IMEs are required under insurance policies and must be complied with, or your benefits will be terminated.
Liab: Liability – Legal responsibility for causing someone else’s harm. Liability is often disputed in a personal injury case.
Lit: Litigation – Officially filing a lawsuit against the at-fault or liable party. The majority of personal injury cases do not go to litigation, either because a settlement is reached or because arbitration is required under the auto insurance policy.
LOR: Letter of Representation – A letter sent to your auto insurance and the at-fault party’s auto insurance notifying them you have retained a lawyer. Once insurance companies receive notice that you have retained a lawyer, they should no longer be communicating with you. If you continue to receive correspondence, let your attorney know right away.
LTD: Long Term Disability – Insurance that can pay a portion of your income if you have a qualifying and disabling injury or illness. These benefits begin after you have been totally disabled for the elimination period, had six (6) consecutive months of disability, or have exhausted any short-term disability benefits from your employer.
MVA: Motor Vehicle Accident – A collision involving at least one motor vehicle where it’s implied that the collision was an accident and not done with intent, malicious actions, or lack of due care to other drivers. An accident that resulted in a collision.
MVC: Motor Vehicle Crash – A collision involving at least one motor vehicle encompassing a wide range of potential causes for the collision. Implied that no accident occurred and that the actions taken leading up to the crash were intentional, deliberate, malicious, or that the driver was acting without due care to the other drivers.
NF: No-Fault – also referred to as personal injury protection (PIP) is a type of car insurance that helps pay for the injuries you sustained in the collision, regardless of who was at fault. This is your own insurance paying for your injuries. Minnesota is a No-Fault state, meaning this type of insurance is required with minimum required limits of $40,000.
PI: Personal Injury – A physical injury a person sustained to their body.
PIP: Personal Injury Protection – a type of car insurance that helps pay for the injuries you sustained in the collision, regardless of who was at fault. This is your own insurance paying for your injuries. Minnesota is a No-Fault state, meaning this type of insurance is required with minimum limits of $40,000. $20,000 for medical expenses and mileage reimbursement, and $20,000 for wage loss and replacement services.
PL: Policy Limit – The maximum amount the insurance company will pay for a single claim.
PR: Police Report – A report created by the on-scene officers of the car collision.
RS: Replacement Services – Services you are no longer able to perform as a result of the injuries sustained in the collision. This benefit is available from your NF/PIP insurance and has a minimum limit of $20,000 for wage loss and replacement services. Despite its name, you don’t actually have to hire anyone to do these services in order to receive the benefit.
S&F: Slip and Fall – A type of accident that could potentially involve a personal injury claim.
SOL: Statute of Limitations – The time limit you have to file a car accident claim after being injured. For car accident claims in Minnesota, the statute of limitations is six (6) years. Some auto insurance policies have shorter deadlines for submitting a claim. Review your policy to determine your claim submission timeline.
SP: Secondary Priority – The second in line to pay the medical bill for injuries sustained as a result of a collision; usually, your health insurance, and they will then establish a subrogation interest.
STD: Short Term Disability – pays for a portion of your salary if you cannot work because of a disabling illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefits are payable up to twenty-six (26) weeks as long as you remain totally disabled.
Stlmt: Settlement – An agreement between adverse parties to resolve a dispute, conflict, or claim. In personal injury cases, a settlement comes in the form of monetary compensation.
Subro: Subrogation – An insurance company’s right to repayment on potential claims. Typically, your health insurance has a subrogation interest for any payments made that should have been paid by your no-fault insurance or through the bodily injury settlement.
UIM: Underinsured Motorist – A motorist who has insurance, but whose policy limits are not enough to cover the damages sustained in the collision. An underinsured claim is filed through your own insurance, acting as additional coverage for you when the other driver does not have enough insurance. In Minnesota, this type of insurance is required with a minimum limit of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per collision.
UM: Uninsured Motorist – A motorist without insurance. Minnesota requires this type of insurance with a minimum limit of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per collision. This insurance will pay for your medical expenses up to the policy limits after you have exhausted your NF/PIP benefits. This coverage is from your own insurance and protects you from incurring additional medical expenses if the other driver fails to have insurance.
WC: Worker’s Compensation – Financial compensation paid to an employee who is unable to work due to injuries sustained in a collision. This is a benefit from your NF/PIP insurance and has a minimum limit of $20,000 for wage loss and replacement services.
WL: Withdrawal Letter – A letter sent by your lawyer stating they have withdrawn representation. The reason for the withdrawal should be noted in the letter. It’s important to retain this letter as you will need to present it to another attorney should you choose to retain one.
It is common for injured individuals to be confused about the legal terminology used in personal injury cases. If you have questions about personal injury acronyms, abbreviations, and definitions, reach out to BK Law Group today.
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