Before retaining a life care planner in a personal injury case, evaluate whether future medical care is meaningfully contested and at what magnitude. Where future care is modest, a medical cost projection may suffice; where it includes attendant care, equipment, surgery, or long-term therapy, a full plan is warranted.
Checklist
Quantify the likely magnitude of future care from the treating records
Identify which future care items are actually disputed
Decide between a medical cost projection and a full life care plan
Confirm planner availability against the case calendar
Questions to ask the expert
Is future care contested, or will the treating physician's projection suffice?
Is the future care need significant enough to warrant a full plan?
What is the planner's admissibility history in this injury type?
Timeline
1-3 weeks between first consideration and engagement.
Required documents
Injury severity summary
Treating physician's current treatment plan
Planner CVs for candidates under consideration
Common pitfalls
Retaining a planner prematurely on soft-tissue cases where future care is small
Delaying retention past the point where records are complete and the treating team is available
Contact our team to discuss how KW Life Care Planning can support your case with certified life care planning expertise. Request a Consultation or call (201) 343-0700.