Italian legal terms, in English

A court-appointed expert assessment held before the main proceedings, also aimed at settlement; one of the two compulsory routes in medical liability.

The injured party’s right to sue the liability insurer of the responsible vehicle directly.

The reduction of compensation when the injured person contributed to causing the damage.

The step by which a person harmed by an offence brings their claim for compensation within the criminal trial.

The expert chosen by a party to assist it before and during the court expert’s work.

The independent expert appointed by the judge to answer technical questions, such as the extent of an injury or the cause of a death.

Damage to a person’s psychological and physical integrity that can be assessed by forensic medicine, valued independently of its effect on earnings.

The non-pecuniary damage suffered by close relatives when a family member dies, or is so badly injured that the relationship is radically changed.

The inner suffering caused by the injury or the loss: distress, anguish, fear. Distinct from the impairment of health and valued in addition to it.

The economic consequences of the injury or death: expenses incurred (danno emergente) and income lost (lucro cessante).

The harm suffered by a victim who survives for an appreciable time before dying, transmitted to the heirs.

The fund that compensates victims when the responsible vehicle is unidentified, uninsured or insured by an insolvent company.

The lasting reduction of psychological and physical integrity, expressed by the forensic expert as a percentage from 1 to 100.

The period of recovery during which the victim is wholly or partly unable to carry out ordinary activities, valued per day.

The two routes by which relatives claim after a death: for their own losses, and for the claims the deceased acquired before dying.

The 2017 law that governs the liability of hospitals and healthcare professionals, the compulsory pre-action steps and the court experts.

Permanent impairments of up to 9 percentage points, valued under Article 139 of the Private Insurance Code in road traffic and medical liability claims.

Income lost because of the injury or death, past and future, including the reduction of the capacity to earn.

A procedure before an accredited mediation body, mandatory before suing in certain matters, including medical liability.

The physician specialised in legal medicine who assesses causation, impairment and the medico-legal aspects of a death or injury.

A lawyer-led negotiation procedure that must be attempted before suing for damages caused by the circulation of vehicles.

The offence of causing a death by negligence in breach of road traffic rules, under Article 589-bis of the Criminal Code.

The increase of the standard table value to reflect exceptional, proven consequences of the injury for the particular victim.

The period after which a right can no longer be enforced: ten years as a rule, five for tort, two for damage caused by vehicles.

An immediately enforceable sum on account of damages, awarded by the criminal court to the civil party.

The document the claimant signs on receiving payment, which usually closes the claim for good.

The representative every EU motor insurer must appoint in each other Member State to handle claims of residents injured abroad.

The contractual liability of hospitals and clinics for harm caused to patients by their staff and organisation.

The formal claim letter to the motor insurer, which starts the statutory deadlines for an offer and is required before suing.

The statutory table, in force since 5 March 2025, for valuing injuries of 10 to 100 points in road traffic and medical liability claims.

Guidance tables for valuing non-pecuniary damage, drawn up by the Milan Civil Justice Observatory and used by courts across Italy.

The bureau that handles claims for accidents caused in Italy by foreign-registered vehicles.