This video discusses the complexities of catastrophic injury cases and the importance of expert testimony. It highlights the challenges in estimating future medical costs and the need for specialized economists. The video emphasizes the significance of a day in the life video to help juries understand the impact of such injuries.
A catastrophic injury is a severe injury that has a lasting impact on an individual's life. These injuries often affect the person's ability to perform daily activities and may require long-term medical care.
Estimating future medical costs is crucial in catastrophic injury cases because it helps determine the compensation needed for long-term care. Accurate projections ensure that victims receive adequate financial support throughout their lives.
Expert testimony provides the necessary credibility and detailed analysis of future medical needs and costs. Experts can help juries understand the complex financial implications of catastrophic injuries.
My name is Tom McCutcheon and I want to talk with you today about catastrophic injury cases. We have a team of experts that are experienced in this. It's easy to see when you deal with or look at a catastrophic injury that it is in fact catastrophic. You can imagine what the person experiencing it goes through and we help a jury see that by doing a day in the life video so that they can be there minute to minute as they undergo the transitions they have to do. They can't engage in self care, they can't walk, they can't go to work. Their life is changed and it's easy to look at the past medical bills and say well this is owed. The most difficult part that people don't see unless you have experience is the future medical cost. Will you need a prescription for the rest of your life? If so how much will that cost? You need a wheelchair accessible van. It's easy to look on the internet and say well you can buy one for $75,000. But if your client is 40 how many will they need over their lifetime and how much will those cost given the current rates of inflation? And it takes an economist to tell a jury how much that is. You don't want to use just any economist. You want an expert economist who is familiar with life care plans and how much they cost. The biggest single cost in a catastrophic injury case is usually the future medical cost replacement vans, prosthetic limb replacement, home modifications. All of those have to be costed out. And those plans cost in the future anywhere from $16 to $35 million and you have to be able to back up every penny of that with medical testimony and expert testimony from an economist.
