The words
they use on purpose.

The maximum amount an insurance policy will pay for a single claim. For bodily injury, most states require a minimum of $15,000–$30,000 per person. This cap is usually the ceiling on what any civilian-to-civilian case can recover.

The percentage of your settlement that your attorney keeps as payment. Typically 33% pre-lawsuit, 40% if a suit is filed. Calculated on the gross settlement, not your net — so the lawyer gets paid before liens are subtracted.

A claim a medical provider places against your settlement for services rendered. They get paid from the settlement before you do. Extended chiropractic treatment often generates liens that exceed the recovery itself.

Your own health insurance's right to be reimbursed from your settlement for bills they paid while your claim was pending. Health insurers will chase this money aggressively.

Medical Payments coverage on your own auto policy. Pays a small amount (usually $1,000–$10,000) toward medical bills regardless of fault. Stacks with the at-fault driver's policy.

Personal Injury Protection. In no-fault states, PIP covers your medical bills and lost wages up to a limit, regardless of who caused the accident. You cannot sue the other driver unless your injuries cross a state-specific threshold.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage on your own policy. Protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. This is often the only real leverage civilian victims have.

A system where you can recover even if you're 99% at fault — your damages are just reduced by your percentage of fault. Most victim-friendly rule.

You can recover only if your fault is below the threshold. In 50% states, you must be less than half at fault. In 51% states, you can be exactly 50% and still recover, but not 51%+.

The harshest rule. If you are even 1% at fault, you recover nothing. Only Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and DC still use it.

The deadline for filing a lawsuit. Varies by state, typically 2–4 years for personal injury. After this window, your case is gone regardless of merit.