Pediatric Case Evaluation

Using peer-reviewed and published methodologies, VDI can address:

1. Future Care Needs/Life Care Plan;
2. Earning Capacity Evaluation

Those with pediatric birth injuries may require life-long medical and non-medical care and services to function at their maximum potential in the least restrictive environment. This is the definition of “rehabilitation.” A Life Care Plan will capture those needs as well as the costs related thereto. VDI life care planning experts are highly qualified and able to develop Life Care Plans involving injuries that include, but are not limited to: anoxic brain injury, cerebral palsy, other neurological injuries, orthopedic injuries such as brachial plexus injuries, amputation, vision and hearing loss, etc. Children not injured at birth also unfortunately sustain injuries. VDI experts are able to develop life care plans for children and adolescents who have also sustained injuries due to trauma.

“Thank you for all of your assistance in this case. I can’t disclose the details of the settlement, but your opinions and analysis were indeed key in bringing it to a resolution. It was a pleasure working with you folks, and I will definitely reach out as my needs demand in the future.”

An often-overlooked element of damages in the pediatric injury case is the impact of the injury on the child’s future ability to work and earn wages. VDI vocational experts use the PEEDS-RAPEL© methodology to do this evaluation. Only a qualified rehabilitation counselor familiar with this methodology has the ability to do this evaluation. Forensic economists are sometimes identified by attorneys to do this; however, since the methodology used by VDI vocational experts to evaluate earning capacity requires application of skills obtained from specialized training that a forensic economist will not have, this evaluation should only be performed by a qualified vocational rehabilitation expert. The forensic economist can then perform the economic calculations considering data provided to them by the vocational rehabilitation expert.

Taylor, Robert H., “The Vocational/Rehabilitation Expert,” The Plaintiff and Defense Attorney’s Guide to Understanding Economic Damages, Brookshire, Slesnick and Ward, editors (Tucson: Lawyers and Judges Publishing Company, Inc., 2007), pp 57-71.

“We are happy to report that the case settled yesterday at mediation. Ms. Corwin’s rebuttal report was outstanding; it helped us in attacking plaintiff’s claim for damages and bringing plaintiff’s expectations into a reasonable range. Thanks again for all of your excellent work!”

Serving Attorneys Nationwide

Vocational Diagnostics provides birth injury and pediatric expert witness services from our offices in Phoenix, Arizona; Denver/Boulder, Colorado; and Madison, Wisconsin. We serve plaintiff and defense attorneys throughout the Rocky Mountain states (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming), the Midwest (Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota), and nationwide. Our certified experts are available for depositions and trial testimony in state and federal courts across the country. Contact us at 800-444-4834 to discuss your case needs.