Life care planning provides the attorney with a meticulously documented and comprehensive assessment of the long-term expenses for a catastrophically injured person. It is critical to fully enumerate these anticipated expenses. They include, but are not limited to: therapy, education, continuing medical treatment, drugs, architectural renovations, special transportation, home care, and facility costs. The rates for each item are researched and reported for the client's geographical area. The life care costs are presented in clear, easily understood tables that can be used for effective presentation in court. An assessment of employability and diminution of earning capacity is also included. Life Care Plans are usually performed in cases involving brain-damaged children, quadriplegia, head injuries, multiple amputations, and sensory limitations.

Life Care Planning Services are important in documenting the damages in cases where an individual has sustained a Catastrophic Injury such as:

• Spinal Cord injuries
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia
• Brain Damaged Babies
• Cerebral Palsy
• Severe Brain Injuries
• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
• Back or Neck Injury with Chronic Pain Syndrome
• Amputations
• Blindness
• Severe Burns
• Severe Loss of hearing
• Psychiatric or Psychological Trauma
• AIDS

The Life Care Plan is needed where the severe injuries have impacted on the persons’ ability to perform their activities of daily living in an independent manner.

These services are important for both Plaintiff and Defense attorneys, where it is necessary to objectively document the injured persons’ damages.

Call for the following articles:

• “Life Care Plans-Documenting Damages in Catastrophic Cases,” Trial Diplomacy Journal, January/February 1993.
• “Life Care Plans-Documenting Damages in Catastrophic Cases,” Professional Negligence Law Reporter (ATLA), April 1993.