Your life care plan is used to show the jury what your needs will be, as a result of your injuries, and what it will cost for the rest of your life or as long as your injuries are expected to affect you. It is comprehensive, including your future medical care, rehabilitation, medications, and much more. A life care plan has benefits beyond the courtroom. In cases of serious or catastrophic injury a life care plan is crucial to recovering adequate compensation to pay for your lifetime needs, but it is also a tool for you and your family to use in making sure that your care is properly managed and coordinated.
Creating Your Life Care Plan
A life care plan is not just a theoretical plan based on formulas. It is customized to your personal needs. Your life care plan is developed by using a wide variety of resources including:
- Consultation with you and your family
- Your medical records
- Your rehabilitation and therapy records
- Your educational records
- Your vocational records
- Consultations with your doctors and treating team
- Consultations with other vendors you currently use or may use for products and services
What’s Included?
Your life care plan is needs based, not funding based, meaning it details your actual needs regardless of what you can presently afford. It includes the details of your impairments, and the needs you have and will have as a result, such as:
- Medical exams
- Surgeries
- Other treatments
- Medications
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Wheelchair, accessories, and maintenance
- Other special equipment
- Care at home or in a facility
- Home modifications
- Special furniture
- Prosthetics
- Transportation needs
- Aids for independent function
- Recreational or leisure equipment
For more on understanding the costs of serious injuries and why you need full and fair compensation, read The True Cost of a Hip Injury.