Glossary of Transportation Law Terms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

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Radial Axles: Axles designed to move laterally entering a curve in an effort to reduce the flange and rail wear incurred with rigid axles. The design was normally confined to the leading or trailing carrying axles of a locomotive. The idea was first tried successfully by W B Adams of the London & South Western Railway in 1863 and was subsequently taken up by FW Webb and others. The axle could be guided by either curved axleboxes, as in the original Adams design, or by a curved transverse frame as in Webb's design.

Reasonable Care: The standard of care in negligence cases; the duty to act reasonably so as to avoid harming others.

Re-Cross Examination: Questioning a witness about matters brought up during re-directs examination.

Re-Direct Examination: Questioning a witness about matters brought up during cross examination.

Regulator: Once the boiler has generated sufficient steam, it can be used for useful work. A valve fitted on top of the boiler and often housed in a dome, is used by the driver to admit steam to the cylinders. The valve is called "the regulator" (known as the "throttle" in the US) and is opened and closed by means of a long shaft connected to a lever accessed from the driver's position in the locomotive cab.

Remand: The decision of an appellate court to send a case back to the trial court with instructions on how to correctly decide the case; often used with the term “reversed.” Reversed means that the appellate court overturned the trial court’s decision.

Remedies: Relief that the plaintiff receives from the defendant in a lawsuit. Often this will include monetary damages or equitable relief (i.e. injunctions).

Res Ipsa Loquitur: A Latin phrase, that means "the thing speaks for itself." Refers to situations when it's assumed that a person's injury was caused by the negligent action of another party because the accident was the sort that wouldn't occur unless someone was negligent.

Respondent: The party that won at trail.

Retainer: Refers to the up front payment a client gives a lawyer to accept a case. The client is paying to "retain" the lawyer's services.

Rudder: A timber, or assembly of timbers, that could be rotated about an axis to control the direction of a vessel underway.