Understanding Life Care Planning for Catastrophic Injury Victims

What is a Life Care Plan?

A life care plan is a detailed report indicating a person’s financial needs and expenses after an accident. A personal injury attorney in Mt.

Pleasant explains that the report accounts for the individual’s entire circumstances, including their medical expenses, nursing costs, daily living costs, and life expectancy, based on the type and extent of their injuries.

If you or a loved one suffered severe injuries in an accident, it would help to formulate a comprehensive life care plan. This plan enables you to account for future expenses and can help you determine how much your personal injury settlement is worth. Based on the plan, your legal experts can fight defensively to ensure you obtain the compensation you deserve.

What is a Life Care Plan for Catastrophic Injuries?

A catastrophic injury is an almost fatal injury that often leads to long-term disability or permanent function loss. It can completely upend your livelihood and career. It can result from a car, slip-and-fall, workplace, truck accident, or a defective product. Examples of catastrophic injuries are:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Severe burn injuries
• Multiple fractures or crush injuries
• Amputations
• Vision loss
• Electric shock
• Blunt force trauma

Adjusting to a drastically altered future can be more manageable with a life care plan. A skilled catastrophic injury lawyer in Iowa can help you create a plan to help you plan for your future expenses and claim the compensation you deserve.

What is the Purpose of a Life Care Plan?

Creating a life care plan provides a detailed projection of your long-term expenses, which is a thorough valuation of your case. It provides an overview of how much your claim is worth and why. With a life care plan, you can achieve the following with the help of an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer in Mt. Pleasant:

• Admit your plan in court as evidence of your injuries: The expert who prepares the plan can testify in detail about the basis of the reasoning and conclusions. It can be a crucial part of success in your compensation claim.
• Use it as your argument for settlement: The plan can support your claims for a fair settlement and resolution of the case. The defendant may request to see the plan and appreciate your sound arguments for what your case is worth, giving you an edge in the negotiations.
• Plan for your future: A life care plan can help you create a path for your future after a catastrophic accident. A personal injury can be stressful, and knowing how to handle your life and needs in the future can make it easier to cope.

What Does Life Care Plan for Catastrophic Injuries Include?

Each catastrophic injury is different, and the needs of an individual may vary. Before creating a life care plan, it’s crucial to evaluate the specific case details and needs arising from the situation. Your physician and catastrophic injury attorney in Iowa can discuss the problem with you to ensure you create a comprehensive plan that includes the following:

• Projected therapeutic methods and lifetime costs associated with the injury
• Medications
• Evaluations
• In-patient facility needs
• Transportation
• Home care needs
• Medical supply needs
• Medical and orthopedic devices
• Diagnostic testing
• Projected surgical treatments and medical care
• Quality of life needs
• Transportation
• Prosthetic needs

Several other costs are associated with catastrophic injuries, such as initial hospitalization, surgical procedures, rehabilitation, doctor’s visits, loss of future earnings, and emergency treatment. Working with legal experts to determine all these costs ensures you don’t miss the intricate details.

What Are the Steps in Creating a Life Care Plan for Catastrophic Injuries?

A catastrophic injury leaves a long-term impact on the victim’s life and future. A well-drafted life care plan can mean the difference between a comfortable life and the frustration of dealing with a catastrophic injury. Without the plan, it’s easy to become blindsided by medical expenses. The importance of the plan can’t be overemphasized.

Your Iowa catastrophic injury attorney can guide you through the steps:

Patient Assessment

The most crucial process in creating a life care plan is evaluating you holistically to determine the long-term effects of the catastrophic injury. The evaluation might entail the following:

• Neuropsychological examinations: Your healthcare providers will evaluate how the injury affects your cognitive, behavioral, motor, linguistic, or executive functioning to predict your ability to perform daily life activities.
• Independent medical evaluations: These are performed by independent medical experts who haven’t been involved in your medical care to give an unbiased report of the type and extent of your injury.
• Expert witness evaluation: The expert possesses the expertise and specialized knowledge, by virtue of training, education, and experience, to give a detailed report of the injury that is materially beyond that of the average person.
• Recommendations: Based on the evaluations, a list of recommended treatments, medications, and assistive devices will be created, along with the associated costs.
• Cost analysis and plan presentation: A team of experts will conduct a cost analysis to determine the overall cost of the life care plan. Your lawyer will then present the plan to you and your family to ensure you understand its contents.

A Skilled Personal Injury Attorney Helping You Create a Life Care Plan for Catastrophic Injuries

Sustaining a catastrophic injury can adversely affect your life’s trajectory. You may not be able to earn a living, and depending on your family for your day-to-day needs can be frustrating. However, creating a life care plan can help you adjust, as it gives an overview of your projected future expenses so that you can lay a strong compensation claim.

A skilled personal injury attorney in Mt. Pleasant can help you create one. With the blueprint, the lawyer can also file a legal claim to obtain the settlement you deserve for the damages. Cornell Injury Law firm hosts a knowledgeable catastrophic injury attorney who can walk this challenging legal journey with you to protect your rights and future. Call us at 319-946-4019 for a FREE consultation.