Virginia Brain Injury Lawyer Describes the Role Certified Life Care Planners Play in TBI Victims’ Lives
After suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI), securing the services of a life care planner is essential for protecting your legal rights to fair compensation. These licensed professionals specialize in assessing the lifelong medical and rehabilitation needs of the injured. Their expert opinion strengthens your legal claim with detailed projections about future costs.
Our knowledgeable Virginia brain injury lawyers at The Mottley Law Firm can help you connect with a trustworthy life care planner who can fully evaluate your TBI personal injury case.
Table of Contents
- Virginia Brain Injury Lawyer Describes the Role Certified Life Care Planners Play in TBI Victims’ Lives
- What Does a Life Care Planner Do for Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors?
- What to Expect When Working With a Virginia Life Care Planner
- How to Find a Professional Traumatic Brain Injury Life Care Planner Near You
What Does a Life Care Planner Do for Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors?
Since traumatic brain injuries vary widely in severity, they impact people in different ways. While some TBI survivors may return to regular activities shortly after an accident, other victims endure lifelong consequences. When deciding how to approach recovery and rehabilitation, it’s vital to consider both short-term and long-term repercussions.
The purpose of a certified life care planner is to anticipate and calculate the long-term consequences of an injury. For example, they help individuals develop a personalized TBI life care plan accounting for current and future medical expenses, such as physical therapy and mobility aids. As brain injuries aren’t static, life care planners must also predict how symptoms may change over time.
A certified life care planner may be a doctor, a nurse, or another type of medical expert. They take a holistic view of wellness guidelines, factoring in physical health, mental health, cognitive deficits like memory loss, transportation and equipment requirements, and more. They also estimate the total costs associated with addressing these needs. The goal is to provide you with a good quality of life after suffering a traumatic brain injury.
What to Expect When Working With a Virginia Life Care Planner
There are several steps to this process. During an initial consultation, they may ask several questions about your brain injury and related symptoms, such as:
- Can you describe the accident that caused your TBI?
- What treatment or support are you currently getting for your condition?
- Do you experience nausea, dizziness, or persistent seizures?
- How would you describe the symptoms of your brain injury?
- Has your TBI impacted your employment?
- In what ways does your condition affect your daily activities?
- How does your doctor describe the prognosis of your recovery?
- If you couldn’t receive appropriate care services, how would that impact your life?
After the meeting, the life care planner will require you to send copies of all relevant medical records. This may include any doctor’s notes assessing your injuries, documents outlining your current treatment plan, and a list of current medications. They might also ask to interview your current employer, medical support staff, and other professionals to better understand your situation.
Another critical aspect of an evaluation of your condition and future needs is to interview friends and family members. For example, you might not fully appreciate the extent of your emotional problems after the traumatic accident, so that’s another factor to assess.
After they’ve completed their research, the life care planner considers what future care may be needed. Then, they complete a document with estimated cost projections.
Cost Projections in a Traumatic Brain Injury Life Plan
Whether it was from a slip-and-fall accident or a car crash, a traumatic brain injury can lead to significant expenses in the long term. In projecting future expenses, a life care planner may include:
- Medical treatments
- Psychological care
- Family counseling
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Assistive technology
- Home services
- Medication
- In-home or residential care
- Inpatient and outpatient care
- Vehicle modifications
- Home modifications
Benefits of Getting a TBI Life Care Plan
This evaluation provides you with a practical life care plan that addresses your myriad needs as a TBI survivor. Another benefit is that it protects victims financially after a brain injury: it creates a valid and compelling argument for the total costs involved in present and future care.
It’s vital to accurately represent the fair value for your TBI settlement. This number isn’t arbitrary. It needs to be supported by medical evidence, and a life care plan lays out these projected costs in black and white, and also accounts for rising costs and changing needs over time.
How to Find a Professional Traumatic Brain Injury Life Care Planner Near You
One of the best ways is to ask for a referral from a knowledgeable Virginia brain injury attorney. The legal team at The Mottley Law Firm has formed strong connections with relevant professionals who can help support your case. It’s important to work with trusted experts whose reports carry weight in negotiations.
In a recent case, our client suffered a concussion after being involved in a rear-ender car accident. While it was deemed a “low impact” collision, the accident exacerbated preexisting issues and permanently damaged her employability. The case ultimately resulted in a $2 million settlement after private mediation.
