Injuries Legal Terms
Common injury types and medical conditions encountered in personal injury litigation, from soft tissue injuries to traumatic brain injuries.
21 terms in this category
ACL Tear
A rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, a key stabilizing ligament in the knee, often requiring surgical reconstruction.
Amputation
The surgical or traumatic removal of a limb or body part, resulting in permanent disability and need for prosthetics and rehabilitation.
Bulging Disc
A spinal condition where an intervertebral disc extends beyond its normal boundary but the outer layer remains intact, unlike a herniated disc.
Burn Injuries
Tissue damage caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, radiation, or friction, classified by severity from first-degree (superficial) to fourth-degree (bone-deep).
Burn Injury
Damage to the skin and underlying tissues caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, radiation, or friction, classified by degree of severity.
Chronic Pain
Persistent pain lasting more than three to six months that continues after the initial injury has healed, often requiring ongoing treatment and significantly impacting quality of life.
Compound Fracture
A severe bone break where the broken bone pierces through the skin, creating an open wound and high risk of infection.
Concussion
A mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head that temporarily affects brain function, causing symptoms like headache, confusion, and memory problems.
Crush Injury
Trauma caused when a body part is caught between two heavy objects, potentially causing fractures, internal bleeding, and tissue death.
Fracture
A break or crack in a bone, ranging from hairline fractures to complete breaks requiring surgical repair with plates, screws, or rods.
Herniated Disc
A spinal injury where the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes through the tough outer layer, potentially pressing on nearby nerves and causing pain, numbness, or weakness.
Internal Bleeding
Hemorrhaging inside the body, often not visible externally, that can be life-threatening if not promptly diagnosed and treated.
Nerve Damage
Injury to peripheral nerves causing pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of function in the affected area.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, causing flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and avoidance behaviors.
Rotator Cuff Tear
An injury to one or more of the four muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint, causing pain and limited range of motion.
Scarring and Disfigurement
Permanent marks, scars, or changes in physical appearance resulting from an injury, often a significant component of damages in personal injury cases.
Soft Tissue Injury
Damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons, or other connective tissues, often caused by trauma, overuse, or sudden movements like those in car accidents.
Spinal Cord Injury
Damage to the spinal cord that results in temporary or permanent changes in strength, sensation, and body functions below the site of injury.
Torn Meniscus
A tear in the cartilage cushion between the thigh bone and shin bone in the knee, commonly caused by twisting or rotating the knee with force.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
A disruption in normal brain function caused by a bump, blow, jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury, ranging from mild concussions to severe permanent damage.
Whiplash
A neck injury caused by a sudden back-and-forth movement of the head, commonly occurring in rear-end car accidents.
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