Delaware Accidents Dictionary

Legal and insurance terms explained plainly

No, it is not just "road rage." Road rage is anger. An aggressive driving statute targets the driving behavior itself: a pattern of unsafe, hostile, or pushy moves behind the...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-29

automated speed enforcement

A camera-based system that records speeding violations and triggers a civil penalty. "Automated" means a machine, not an officer standing on the roadside, captures the event....

DICTIONARY 2026-03-25

bad faith penalties

Insurance companies and defense lawyers sometimes talk about these as if they are automatic extras people tack onto a claim just to gain leverage. That is not what they are....

DICTIONARY 2026-03-22

child restraint law

A crash can turn routine school drop-off or a short drive to the store into a life-changing injury if a child is riding without the right protection. A child restraint law sets...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-26

CRPS

Like a smoke alarm that keeps blaring long after the fire is out, CRPS is a pain condition where the nervous system keeps sending danger signals even after the original injury...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-22

duty to stop and render aid

After a crash, a driver must remain at the scene, provide identifying information, and give reasonable help to anyone who is injured, including calling for emergency assistance...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-25

hands-free driving law

A hands-free driving law is a rule that limits drivers to voice-operated or otherwise hands-free use of phones and similar devices while a vehicle is being driven. "Hands-free"...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-27

helmet law defense

Everyone says if you were not wearing a helmet, the insurance company can deny your motorcycle claim, but actually that is not how it works. This is a defense argument used to...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-21

herniated disc

In Delaware, an injured person usually has 2 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim before the right to sue is generally lost. Think of a spinal...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-21

hit and run statute

A crash can get much more expensive, and much harder to sort out, when a driver leaves instead of stopping. For an injury claim, that can affect who pays, whether police can...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-28

negligent driving

People often mix up negligent driving with reckless driving, but they are not the same. Negligent driving usually means a driver failed to use reasonable care behind the wheel...

DICTIONARY 2026-04-01

no-fault insurance state

Think of it like using your own toolbox first after something goes wrong on the job: before pointing fingers, you turn to your own gear to handle the immediate problem. A...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-30

open container law

No, it does not only apply when a driver is drunk, and no, putting a cap back on the bottle does not magically make it legal. An open container law is a rule that restricts...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-27

red light camera ticket

A red light camera ticket is often confused with a regular traffic ticket issued by a police officer, but they are not the same. A regular traffic ticket usually follows a stop...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-30

road rage law

What counts as road rage, and is there actually a law against it? In general, "road rage law" is a casual way of talking about the traffic and criminal laws that punish...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-26

seat belt law

Often confused with a child restraint law, a seat belt law covers the use of a vehicle's built-in safety belt by drivers and passengers, while a child restraint law governs car...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-31

uninsured motorist penalty

A legal consequence for driving without required auto insurance. "Uninsured motorist" means a driver who has no valid liability coverage in place when the law requires it....

DICTIONARY 2026-03-29

unreasonable delay

You just got a letter that says your claim is still "under review" even though the insurer has had your medical records, repair estimates, and witness statements for weeks or...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-23

vision zero initiative

You just got a letter that says your town is joining a Vision Zero initiative after a stretch of serious crashes at a busy intersection. That usually means a public safety plan...

DICTIONARY 2026-03-31