After a catastrophic injury, victims will often face mountains of medical expenses, and for many, those expenses are more than they can afford, either as the victim or defendant.
That’s what makes it so important that personal injury attorneys with catastrophic injury cases have access to the most accurate, thorough information possible when calculating a settlement offer or request. That’s where a Certified Life Care Planner comes in.
Keep reading to learn more about how a Life Care Planner can benefit your catastrophic injury case.
What Is a Life Care Plan?
The first step to understanding how a Life Care Planner can benefit your case is figuring out exactly what a Life Care Plan is. A Life Care Plan is an exhaustive accounting of all future care costs expected in association with a personal injury accident. These reports include a wide variety of information, including but not limited to:
- A detailed medical description of the injury
- A list of diagnoses and current medications
- A thorough assessment of future care costs
- Notes from interviews with healthcare providers
- Additional resources used during research
What Are the Benefits of a Life Care Plan?
A Life Care Plan comes with several significant benefits that make it a great resource for catastrophic injury cases. With a Life Care Plan, you can see the following advantages:
- Enable Informed Decisions – Help your client understand the cost of legal action.
- Take Nimble Action – Get thorough and accurate information, fast.
- Optimize Legal Strategies – You need an understanding of the full picture to make effective legal planning decisions.
- Strengthen Your Position – A Life Care Plan can serve as strong evidence in support of your claim or position.
These are just a few of the specific ways that a Life Care Plan can help you if you have a catastrophic injury case. Keep in mind that each case is different, and there may be other uses for a Life Care Plan not explained above. You can talk to a Certified Life Care Planner to determine how a Life Care Plan can benefit your catastrophic injury case.
What Are the Risks of Failing to Get a Life Care Plan for a Catastrophic Injury?
Along with the benefits that come with getting a Life Care Plan, there are also certain risks that you face by failing to get an accurate medical assessment for your case. Without a Life Care Plan, your client may be subject to the following:
- Excessive Settlements – A Life Care Plan can help prevent your client from accepting settlement claims for higher than the fair value of the injury in question. Without an accurate Life Care Plan, the plaintiff may be able to negotiate for a higher settlement than they truly deserve.
- Undervalued Claims – Without a Life Care Plan, you may not be accurately assessing the full cost of your client’s injuries. By getting a Life Care Plan, you can ensure that you are getting your client the compensation that they need and deserve.
As you can see, the risks posed by failing to get a Life Care Plan are significant. Don’t put the outcome of your case at risk by failing to talk to a Certified Life Care Planner about your options.
Can a Life Care Plan Support My Catastrophic Injury Case?
By now it should be clear that a Life Care Plan can bring real advantages for those with catastrophic injury cases. However, a Life Care Plan may not be right for every case. The best way to learn whether or not you need a Life Care Plan for your case is by talking to a Certified Life Care Planner. We can talk to you more about what’s included in our reports, how they’re made, and why you should rely on us for accurate medical cost assessments. Don’t worry: we won’t recommend our services if they aren’t right for you.
What Types of Catastrophic Injury Cases Can Benefit from a Life Care Plan?
While any type of catastrophic injury case can benefit from the support of a Life Care Plan, there are some cases that are more likely to require a Life Care Plan compared to others.
A few of the most common cases requiring Life Care Plans include the following:
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Burn injuries
- Workplace injuries
Whether or not your case involves one of the types of injuries listed above, a Life Care Plan may be beneficial. If you’re unsure about whether or not your case qualifies, get in touch with our Certified Life Care Planners for help.
Get an Accurate Life Care Plan from DM Medical Cost Consulting
Catastrophic injury cases are, by definition, one of the most high-stakes types of personal injury cases. As such, the level of scrutiny your case will be under is also higher than usual. When you’re handling a major, catastrophic injury case, don’t put the outcome of your case at risk by failing to get the evidence that you need. A Life Care Plan can make all the difference for you and your client.
If you have a personal injury case involving a catastrophic injury, reach out to the Certified Life Care Planners at DM Medical Cost Consulting today to talk about whether or not a Life Care Plan is needed for your case.