Accident Terms and Definitions

Witness
Person who testifies under oath before a court, regarding what he/she has seen, heard or otherwise observed.

Commissioner of Insurance
The title of the head of most state insurance departments. In some states, the Director or Superintendent of Insurance is used instead.

Nonrenewal
The termination of an insurance policy at its normal expiration date.

Airbag Deployment
Occurs when the driver, passenger or side airbag has been used or deployed during a crash or other incident.

Limited Tort
Offers savings on your premiums. You are still able to recover all out-of-pocket medical and other expenses, however you are not able to recover non-monetary damages or receive payments for pain and suffering unless injuries are defined as serious.

Venue
The specific county, city or geographical area in which a court has jurisdiction

Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UMC)
Provides coverage for a policyholder involved in a collision with a driver who does not have liability insurance.

Negligence
The absence of ordinary care.

Accident
A collision involving an automobile and anything that causes damage to the automobile, including other automobiles, telephone poles, buildings, and trees.

Replacement Cost
Replacement cost is the cost of replacing lost or damaged property with new property of like kind and quality, at current market prices.