USING LIFETIME CARE PLAN EXPERTS TO DEVELOP PLAINTIFF’S DAMAGE CLAIMS
- In Uncategorized
- 27 July 2015
In many personal injury cases, it is important for plaintiff lawyers to consider the use of a lifetime care plan expert. Physiatrists can be used for this purpose since they are educated in orthopedics and neurology. This type of expert has experience and training in preparing future care plans as well as the studies that have been done regarding the nature, extent, and cost of future medical care required by the injured plaintiff.
The expert that is chosen for this purpose in a pending litigation matter should be actively practicing medicine and treating patients.
The lifetime care planner should be given all of the plaintiff’s medical records and review them. The expert should be prepared to distinguish preexisting medical problems from current trauma-related problems. The expert must be able to testify that he or she looked at all of the available radiological films (MRIs, X-rays, CT Scans, PET scans) and any other studies done on the plaintiff before completing a lifetime care plan.
The expert may talk to current treating physicians and help educate them as to the future needs of the plaintiff. In that manner, each medical provider will be properly coordinated in their testimony if required at trial.
A further benefit of utilizing a lifetime care planner early in the litigation process is that in addition to being better prepared to present a complete damage picture to the trier-of-fact, the plaintiff will also receive the assistance of an additional source of medical consultation and prognosis.
Written by: Keith Lovendosky, attorney @ Bailey & Partners