CHICAGO, IL – In any personal injury or medical malpractice case, the goal is to compensate the victim for the injuries they suffered as a result of another’s negligence or recklessness conduct. Compensation, also known as damages, can come in many forms, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, rehabilitation treatments, loss of income, lost potential of future earnings, amongst others.
If an injury is catastrophic enough and will impact the victim for their rest of his/her life, medical care and treatment must be compensated, as well. In most cases, the cost of future medical care and treatment can be the most substantial. To provide the jury with a proper information regarding what a lifetime of medical costs will be for the victim, and what factors make up a life care plan.
What is a Life Care Plan?
A life care plan is typically created by the people hired by a plaintiff’s attorney to analyze the victims past medical and employment history, along with the victim’s present medical outcome. This information is then used to create what is known as a life care plan that estimates the cost of the victim’s future medical needs for the rest of his/her life.
Who Creates the Life Care Plan?
The person who creates a life care plan is known as an expert. Experts must meet certain criteria and experience that qualifies to make them a credible expert. An expert may include a nurse whose career is devoted to the disabled, a medical doctor whose focus is rehabilitation, or obtaining a PhD in relevant areas.
What Components Make Up a Life Care Plan?
The expert life care planner will first begin with:
- Extensively reviewing the victim’s entire medical history
- Meet with the victim
- Possibly conduct an independent medical examination
- Discuss with the victim their prior medical care
Using this information, an expert life care planner will create an estimate of the future cost of the victim’s medical needs, as well as any current costs. The life care planner will discuss the patient’s prior medical history, as well as discuss in detail the incident of medical malpractice.
The life care planner will then come up with an informed estimate, including:
- Future medical complications
- Requirements of medical treatment for life
- Whether future surgeries or procedures are needed
- Requirements on medication and medical devices
- Potential for the services of a home aide or residency in a rehabilitation or assisted living facility
The life care planner will include a reasonable cost of each of the above listed items.
What Happens to the Life Care Plan Once it’s Created?
Once a life care plan is created, it serves two purposes: as a comprehensive report and evidence to the jury.
The comprehensive report serves as a guide for the victim’s past, current, and future medical condition. It also helps medical professionals, as well as the victim, decide what future medical treatment the victim will have to endure. It also serves as a claim to collect damages, or compensation, for pain and suffering.
More importantly, the life care plan serves as evidence to a jury and the court for them to easily comprehend what the victim will endure, in terms of medical care, for the rest of their life, as well as how much it’s going to cost.
Contact a Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Chicago, Illinois
If you or your loved one has been injured due to a medical professional’s negligence, please contact one of the experienced lawyers of Dinizulu Law Group today. Our attorneys have achieved several million dollar awards on behalf of our clients utilizing their skills and resources to hold those accountable. Call our office today for a free consultation at (312) 384-1920.
