There are a lot of legal terms that get thrown around on TV shows and in casual conversation. Plaintiff. Defendant. Burden of proof. Beyond a reasonable doubt. Verdict. Acquittal.

But what do all these terms really mean? If you find yourself involved in any kind of real legal matter, you quickly realize how important these words are to your future.

Here is our civil vs. criminal case guide to the legal terms: plaintiff, defendant, and burden of proof. With any questions about a civil or criminal legal matter in which you or a loved one are involved, please contact the Maryland trial lawyers at Belsky & Horowitz, LLC to set up a case consultation.

In the United States, unlike many parts of the world, civil and criminal cases are handled under two separate and distinct areas of jurisdiction. Civil laws are in place to resolve disputes between individual parties, while criminal law deals with offenses that have occurred against the government or state. The type of law that applies to a situation depends on the circumstances. Knowledge of the difference between civil and criminal jurisdiction will help you know how to proceed, should you face a situation which calls for legal action. It is always beneficial to seek the guidance of an accomplished personal injury lawyer if you are unsure whether your situation falls under civil or criminal jurisdiction.

If you’ve been injured and are in the midst of a personal injury trial, your lawyer has already explained to you what the path is likely to look like. In some instances, however, there are motions that can delay or stop a trial. If you hear the phrase “conflict of interest” brought against your lawyer during trial, it’s important to understand the implications and how it could affect your outcome. Let’s start by taking a look at the legal definition of conflict of interest.

If you’ve been the victim of an accident and are pursuing legal action, you and your lawyer will discuss the concept of negligence. In order to receive compensation for your injuries and losses, you’ll need to prove that the other party caused your accident and that it should have been prevented. No matter how you sustained your injuries, whether it was in an automobile accident, the result of a physician’s error, or because a business owner did not maintain their property, negligence is a factor that needs to be proven. In some instances, when additional recklessness caused the accident, gross negligence may be a factor you and your lawyer discuss.

After an accident, the drivers involved are supposed to exchange contact and insurance policy information so they can inform their companies and work on getting their claim and compensation. But what happens if the other party doesn’t have car insurance?

While everyone is supposed to drive with insurance, there are many people who don’t. If you’re in an accident with someone who is uninsured or underinsured, your car accident claim may become more difficult than you first expected. Drivers have coverage for instances like this, but the insurance they get from their company usually depends on the uninsured or underinsured driver. Maryland has a new insurance policy to further help drivers in accidents with drivers who don’t have enough or any insurance at all.