Retaining experts in a birth injury matter typically involves a pediatric neurologist or neonatologist on causation, a pediatric life care planner, and an economist. Early coordination ensures the planner documents baseline function and obtains treating-team recommendations before growth changes the picture.
Checklist
Confirm the injury characterization from delivery, NICU, and follow-up records
Retain a life care planner with pediatric experience once liability review supports proceeding
Provide neurodevelopmental, therapy, early intervention, and school records
Arrange planner contact with the treating neurologist and developmental pediatrician
Coordinate the planner and economist on life expectancy scenarios and care settings
Questions to ask the expert
How do you project needs across developmental stages?
How do you document the basis for attendant care hours and equipment replacement?
How do you present life expectancy when the literature supports a range?
Have you testified in birth injury cases?
Timeline
60-120 days from retention to report, longer when a neurodevelopmental evaluation or physician conference is pending.
Required documents
Labor and delivery, NICU, and pediatric records
Neurodevelopmental and therapy evaluations
Early intervention and individualized education plan records
Equipment, medication, feeding, and seizure documentation
Family caregiving log or description of daily care
Common pitfalls
Retaining a planner without pediatric experience
Failing to present home-based and facility-based scenarios
An in-person or video evaluation is standard practice and lets the planner document function, equipment, and daily care directly rather than relying on records alone.
How is family-provided care handled?
The plan documents the hours and level of care the family provides and values them at market rates where the jurisdiction allows, distinguishing them from paid services already in place.
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.