What is a Life Care Plan?

A Life Care Plan is a comprehensive, evidence-based report outlining an injured individual’s future medical and related care needs, along with associated costs. Prepared by a Certified Life Care Planner (LCP-C), it is grounded in medical records, clinical standards, and peer-reviewed literature, and is designed to withstand legal scrutiny.

Why does an attorney need a Life Care Planner?

Attorneys retain Life Care Planners to establish credible future medical damages. A properly prepared Life Care Plan strengthens settlement negotiations, supports expert testimony, and provides a defensible framework for economists to calculate future costs. It also helps avoid under- or over-estimating damages—both of which can undermine a case.

When should a Life Care Planner be retained?

Ideally, a Life Care Planner should be retained as early as possible, once the nature and permanence of the injuries are reasonably clear. Early involvement allows for strategic case planning, realistic damages assessment, and cost control. However, Life Care Planners can also be retained later in litigation for updated plans, critiques, or rebuttals.

Do you work with both plaintiffs and defense counsel?

Yes. Smith Legal Nurse Consultants works with both plaintiff and defense counsel. All opinions are objective, unbiased, and based solely on the medical evidence and accepted standards of care. Neutrality enhances credibility and defensibility in both settlement and trial settings.

What types of cases benefit from a Life Care Plan?

• Catastrophic or permanent injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Birth injury
• Medical malpractice
• Wrongful death or long-term disability

Any case involving future medical care, long-term treatment, or ongoing support needs may benefit from life care planning.

What records do you need to start?

At a minimum, we require relevant medical records related to the injury or condition at issue. Additional records—such as therapy notes, diagnostic imaging, or prior medical history—may be requested depending on the case. We can help identify missing records early to avoid gaps in analysis.

Do you meet with the client?

Client interviews and assessments are conducted when appropriate and case-specific. Whether an in-person or virtual assessment is necessary depends on the nature of the injuries, available documentation, and litigation strategy. All assessments follow accepted life care planning standards.

Can you rebut or critique another expert’s Life Care Plan?

Yes. We provide independent critiques and rebuttals of opposing Life Care Plans. These analyses evaluate methodology, assumptions, medical support, and adherence to accepted standards, identifying weaknesses that may impact admissibility or credibility.