accidents and injuries

A.K.A. is the abbreviation of “also known as.” It is often used to specify a party’s aliases or nicknames in a case.

[Last reviewed in November of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Abandon refers to the act of abandonment. A party can “abandon” in multiple fields of law and abandoning generally, though not always, involves voluntarily giving up a right.

See abandonment for more information. 

[Last reviewed in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

The definition of “able to work” is defined as capable of employment.  A person who is able to work is ineligible to receive unemployment benefits on the basis of illness or injury. 

• labor law

In tort law, an abnormally dangerous activity is an activity that is "not common usage" and creates a foreseeable and very significant risk of physical harm, even when reasonable care is exercised by all parties.

• tort law

An act of God refers to a severe, unanticipated natural event for which no human is responsible. Despite its facial religious connections, the usefulness of the term means “act of God” is frequently used in otherwise secular statutory and case law.

An action refers to a judicial proceeding. If a party brings a civil or criminal case against you, an action has been brought against you. The party bringing the action is the plaintiff /prosecution respectively. 

A claim is actionable if there exist sufficient circumstances to meet the requirements of a cause of action.

Actual cause is a necessary element for both liability in civil cases and a guilty verdict under much of criminal law.

In tort law, actual damages, also known as compensatory damages, are damages awarded by a court equivalent to the loss a party suffered. If a party’s right was technically violated but they suffered no harm or losses, a court may instead grant nominal damages.

• tort law
• damages
• COMPENSATORY DAMAGES
• actual damages
• contract law

Additur is a process whereby a judge increases the amount of damages awarded by a jury.