Legal-Ease Glossary: P to S

A “physiatrist” sounds like a doctor, sure. But what does she or he do? If you’re asked to sign a “release,” what exactly does that mean? Thanks to Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers’ Legal-Ease glossary, you can get the answers with the click of a mouse. Here are terms from P to S.

Physiatrist: A physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, including a wide variety of treatments for musculoskeletal disorders involving muscles, bones, nerves, ligaments and tendons that cause pain and/or difficulty with functioning.

Physiotherapist (PT): A regulated health care professional who, after examining an injured person and completing relevant testing, treats injury or dysfunction with exercises and other physical modalities. PTs assist injured people with their recovery and help them return to normal function.

Plaintiff: The person who begins a lawsuit by suing another person, company, corporation or insurance company.

Psychologist: A regulated health professional who studies the mind and behaviour. Psychologists provide counseling and help people deal with the emotional and behavioural problems that often stem from being involved in an accident.

Rehabilitation Benefit: This accident benefit pays for all reasonable rehabilitation expenses that result from an accident with the purpose of helping an injured person reduce the effects of his or her disability and reintegrate into society and the workforce.

Release: A legal contract that is signed at the conclusion of a lawsuit. It states that the injured person is releasing the at-fault party from any claims in relation to the accident or injury, outlines the agreed-upon settlement amount and states that obligations from the accident have been completed.

Retainer Agreement: This is the legal contract, signed by the injured party and his or her lawyer, that outlines how the lawyer will be paid for the services she or he provides.

Rules of Civil Procedure: The process by which an individual’s claim for personal injury will proceed. The rules are applied to proceedings in court and must be followed by both parties.

Statement of Claim: Prepared by the lawyer of the plaintiff, this document commences a lawsuit in court. It outlines the damages being claimed by the plaintiff from the defendant as a result of the negligent act that caused the plaintiff’s injury. The statement of claim usually describes how the accident occurred and what injuries resulted.

Statement of Defence: A document prepared by the defendant’s lawyer in response to the statement of claim. The statement of defense will commonly disagree with and deny the allegations contained in the statement of claim

Structure Settlement: When a plaintiff is awarded a settlement from a lawsuit, he or she can choose to have the money divided into regular payments over a certain period rather than be given one lump sum. Structured settlements are tax-free, provide a guaranteed income stream and help ensure the plaintiff will have the money necessary to pay for future care or needs.