12-581. Definitions

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Bodily injury" means bodily harm, sickness, disease or emotional or mental distress, including death resulting from any of these conditions at any time, sustained by a person.

2. "Claimant" means a person suffering bodily injury, a person claiming on behalf of or as a result of bodily injury to another person, the representative of the estate of a deceased person or a beneficiary of a wrongful death action.

3. "Costs of health care" means medical, custodial, rehabilitative and related expenses.

4. "Economic loss" means pecuniary harm for which damages are recoverable.

5. "Future damages" means economic loss and noneconomic loss arising from bodily injury that accrues after trial of a claim under this article.

6. "Noneconomic loss" means nonpecuniary harm for which damages are recoverable but does not include punitive or exemplary damages.

7. "Past damages" means economic loss and noneconomic loss arising from bodily injury that have accrued before a claim is tried under this article, including punitive or exemplary damages.

8. "Qualified insurer" means an insurer, self-insurer, plan or arrangement approved by the director of the department of insurance and financial institutions.