The Role of Life Care Planners in Medical Malpractice Cases

 Posted on April 18, 2023 in Medical Malpractice

It is not a secret that medical errors are now considered to be the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. Both fatal and non-fatal medical errors that occur due to substandard professional approaches are usually classified as medical malpractice incidents. Although not all medical errors are legally actionable, a patent who has suffered harm as a result of healthcare approaches that do not meet professional standards likely has grounds upon which to hold an offending healthcare provider or facility liable for malpractice.

Every patient’s story is unique and every patient who has suffered malpractice-related harm deserves justice. Yet, it is especially important to hold negligent providers accountable when someone’s harm is truly life-altering or life-ending.

When a patient has suffered non-fatal harm but their situation is serious enough that they will be struggling as a result of their circumstances for the rest of their life, the testimony of a life care planner may make a significant difference when it comes to convincing a jury of a patient’s need for significant financial restitution.

Why Their Testimony Can Be Particularly Consequential  

As defined by the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals, life care planners “Evaluate individuals with disabilities or chronic health conditions in order to outline the needs created by the disability. (A) life care planner develops an integrated plan that includes items and services required, along with specific… current and future needs and costs.” Essentially, life care planners serve as subject-matter experts concerning how much someone’s injuries cost them and will continue to cost them in the future.

The testimony of a life care planner can serve as leverage during negotiations and, if necessary, can help to convince a jury of how much a victim’s injuries are worth, financially speaking. Without access to a life care planner’s clear analysis of the value of a patient’s injuries, a jury may be tempted to award a patient less than they deserve.

Contact an Experienced Rockford Medical Malpractice Lawyers for Personalized Insight

When the costs of a patient’s ongoing care are likely to last for months, years, or even a lifetime, it is critically important to seek a settlement or verdict that will allow a victim of medical malpractice to meet their related financial needs and to properly address the losses they have suffered. The knowledgeable Rockford, IL medical malpractice lawyers at Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law understand that creative approaches – including engaging the services of a life care planner – may be necessary to secure clients the compensation to which they are rightfully entitled.

If you or a loved one has suffered significant injuries due to a provider’s substandard approaches to patient care, consider scheduling a free case evaluation with our team today. By calling our team at 815-215-7561 or submitting a contact form on our website, you can begin the process of making truly informed decisions about your legal strategy moving forward. If you choose to entrust your case to us, we will do our utmost to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. We look forward to speaking with you.

Source: 

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