When it comes to claiming compensation after a road traffic accident, and indeed engaging with any legal process, it’s inevitable that people looking to make a personal injury claim will encounter legal jargon.
What is jargon and why is it used?
Jargon, is a form of specialised language used by professionals of any given field that is not immediately clear to those who are not a part of that industry. Jargon is used by professionals in order for them to communicate more effectively and efficiently.
In the legal world, there are a great many organisations and processes with extremely long and highly specific names that can be a bit of a mouthful, such as the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO), therefore condensing lengthy names into acronyms is a great time saver.
The Problem With Jargon
Jargon is fantastic for solicitors, as they’re able to work together with a much greater degree of speed and accuracy, but jargon can often leave individuals who are making a claim feeling excluded and confused when not properly explained.
When you also consider the sheer number of jargon terms and acronyms that are used within the legal industry, which is a lot, then it’s easy for even the most astute person to become overwhelmed and frustrated by jargon, so much so that it can even put them off dealing with aspects of their claim.
The Solution – The Jargon Buster
To make sure that nobody is bamboozled by confusing Legal Jargon, we’ve come up with a list of the main terms you can expect to encounter when going through your road traffic accident (RTA) claim.
This list is intended to be of general assistance to you, but do remember that it is your solicitor’s job to ensure that you fully understand all aspects of your claim so that you can make informed decisions. You can and should ask your solicitor to explain anything to you that you do not understand.
Motor Accident Solicitors Society
It is essential following any road traffic accident that you use an independent, experienced solicitor. The Motor Accident Solicitors Society is a national society of solicitors who specialise in road traffic accident claims. Its Members are required to adhere to a strict service charter providing you with the peace of mind that your claim is being handled by experts. Whilst specialising in road traffic accident claims, Members can also advise on a wide range of legal disputes encountered on a daily basis.
To contact the society, visit our Contact Us Page and fill out an enquiry form. Alternatively, you can also reach us by email on enquiries@mass.org.uk or by telephone on 0117 925 9604.
Jargon Buster is a MASS original blog, first published on Tuesday 23rd January 2025