Vahingoittunut

Vahingoittunut is a Finnish term that functions as both an adjective meaning “injured” or “harmed” and as a noun referring to a person who has suffered bodily harm. It derives from vahinko (damage, harm, accident) and the past participle suffix -nut, forming a descriptor of someone who has sustained injury or damage.

In everyday language, vahingoittunut describes individuals who have endured an injury in an accident, fall, or other incident. In medical and social welfare contexts, it is used to refer to the person who has been harmed, for example in forms or discussions related to treatment, rehabilitation, or compensation.

In legal and administrative contexts, vahingoittunut often denotes an injured party entitled to compensation or care, such as in personal injury claims, insurance matters, or accident benefits. It is important to distinguish it from vamma, which refers more to the injury itself or its lasting effects, whereas vahingoittunut emphasizes the person who has suffered the harm.

The term carries a neutral tone and is used in both official language and everyday speech. Related terms include vahinko (damage or accident), vamma (injury or disability), and vahingoittuminen (the occurrence of injury).