How Injury Reporting Consultants Can Strengthen Your Case

How Injury Reporting Consultants Can Strengthen Your Case

by | Feb 28, 2025 | Expert Reports

Personal Injury Attorneys: How Injury Reporting Consultants Can Strengthen Your Case

When handling a personal injury case, having clear, concise, and well-researched expert reports can make all the difference between a favorable settlement and a drawn-out legal battle. Personal injury attorneys rely heavily on expert witnesses to provide objective, fact-based insights into a plaintiff’s injuries, future medical needs, and vocational limitations. This is where Injury Reporting Consultants comes in, offering a range of expert reports tailored to support your legal arguments and maximize the success of your case.

In this blog post, we will dive into the types of expert reports provided by Injury Reporting Consultants, how they benefit personal injury attorneys, and why they are crucial in obtaining fair compensation for your clients.

The Importance of Expert Reports in Personal Injury Cases

Personal injury cases often involve complex medical and vocational issues that require professional analysis to assess the full extent of a client’s injuries. Whether you are representing a client with catastrophic injuries or a more modest claim, expert reports provide the unbiased evidence needed to substantiate the claims made regarding medical costs, future care, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity.

Injury Reporting Consultants specializes in preparing thorough, client-centered expert reports that attorneys can use in all phases of litigation, from negotiation to courtroom testimony. Our reports are designed to be clear, accurate, and tailored to the specific details of each case, giving attorneys the evidence they need to argue for just compensation.

Expert Reports Offered by Injury Reporting Consultants

Injury Reporting Consultants offers a variety of specialized reports to meet the needs of personal injury attorneys. Each report is prepared by a team of interdisciplinary health professionals, ensuring that the analysis is both comprehensive and tailored to the case. Here are some of the key reports that we provide:

1. Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs)

A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a comprehensive assessment of a person’s physical abilities and limitations following an injury. The FCE measures various aspects of physical function—such as strength, endurance, range of motion, and postural tolerance—against the demands of the individual’s job or daily life activities.

How FCEs Help Attorneys:

  • FCEs provide objective, measurable, and quantifiable data on a client’s physical capacity, which can be used to substantiate claims for lost wages or future vocational limitations.
  • The results help determine whether your client can return to work, whether they need accommodations, or if they are no longer able to perform their previous job. This information is critical in securing fair compensation for loss of earning capacity.

2. Vocational and Earning Capacity Evaluations

When an injury affects a client’s ability to return to their previous employment or pursue future job opportunities, a Vocational and Earning Capacity Evaluation becomes essential. This report assesses the injured individual’s vocational skills, educational background, and work history to determine how their injury impacts their ability to earn income in the future.

How Vocational Evaluations Help Attorneys:

  • These evaluations can provide evidence of diminished earning capacity and help calculate lost wages over time.
  • They are critical for determining the long-term economic impact of an injury, particularly for clients with permanent disabilities or vocational limitations.

3. Life Care Plans

A Life Care Plan outlines the long-term medical and non-medical care an injured individual will require throughout their lifetime. This report includes projections for ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, medical equipment, medications, and any necessary modifications to the individual’s living environment.

How Life Care Plans Help Attorneys:

  • A Life Care Plan provides a comprehensive view of future medical costs, helping to secure compensation for your client’s lifelong care needs.
  • The report includes detailed cost projections, allowing attorneys to negotiate the appropriate financial resources to cover all future expenses, ensuring that clients receive the care they need.

4. Medical Cost Projections

A Medical Cost Projection estimates the future medical expenses that a client will incur as a result of their injury. This report is based on the individual’s medical history, current treatment plans, and the expected progression of their condition.

How Medical Cost Projections Help Attorneys:

  • This report provides a clear estimate of future medical costs, helping attorneys negotiate settlements that reflect the full scope of the client’s financial needs.
  • Medical cost projections are particularly important in cases where ongoing treatment or rehabilitation is required, ensuring that your client is fully compensated for future medical expenses.

5. Medical Billing Reviews

A Medical Billing Review ensures that all past and current medical bills related to the injury are accurate and reasonable. This report can identify overcharges or billing errors, providing attorneys with the evidence needed to challenge inflated medical costs.

How Medical Billing Reviews Help Attorneys:

  • This service ensures that all medical costs presented in court or during settlement negotiations are accurate and defensible.
  • It helps protect your client from being overcharged or undercompensated for their medical expenses.

Why Choose Injury Reporting Consultants for Your Expert Reports?

Injury Reporting Consultants is committed to delivering expert reports that are thorough, unbiased, and tailored to the specific needs of each case. Here’s why personal injury attorneys trust us with their expert reporting needs:

1. Interdisciplinary Expertise

Our team consists of professionals from a wide range of medical, rehabilitative, and vocational fields, ensuring that each report is informed by the latest knowledge and best practices. Whether your case involves complex medical issues, long-term care planning, or vocational assessments, we have the expertise to provide a well-rounded analysis.

2. Clear, Concise, and Actionable Reports

We understand that personal injury cases often involve complicated medical and vocational details. That’s why we take care to ensure that our reports are written in clear, concise language that is easy to understand. Our goal is to provide attorneys with actionable insights that can be easily explained to judges, juries, and opposing counsel.

3. Objective and Defensible Evidence

Our expert reports are unbiased and based on objective assessments, making them highly credible in court. We follow strict standards of practice to ensure that our findings are defensible, whether used in mediation or at trial.

4. Tailored to the Specific Needs of Your Case

No two personal injury cases are the same, which is why we tailor each report to the specific circumstances of the injury, the client’s vocational background, and the legal needs of the case. We work closely with attorneys to ensure that the report addresses the critical issues at hand, providing a comprehensive and personalized analysis.

Conclusion: Expert Reports That Make a Difference

In personal injury litigation, the quality of the expert reports you present can significantly impact the outcome of your case. At Injury Reporting Consultants, we specialize in providing personal injury attorneys with the expert reports they need to secure just and favorable resolutions for their clients. Whether you need a Functional Capacity Evaluation, Life Care Plan, Medical Cost Projection, or Vocational Assessment, we are here to support your case with thorough, objective, and defensible evidence.

If you’re ready to strengthen your personal injury case with expert reporting, contact Injury Reporting Consultants today to learn how we can assist you and your clients. Let us provide the comprehensive reports that ensure your clients receive the compensation they deserve.

Master the Art of Injury Claims with Expert Insights from IRC

Master the Art of Injury Claims with Expert Insights from IRC

by | Oct 8, 2024 | Life Care Plan, Expert Reports

In the world of personal injury law, success depends on your ability to convey the depth and impact of an injury convincingly. At Injury Reporting Consultants, our goal is to provide you with expert insights that enhance your understanding and articulation of injury claims, helping you to master this essential art.

How Our Expert Insights Elevate Your Practice:

1. Comprehensive Evaluations: Our Functional Capacity Evaluations provide a detailed picture of an injury’s impact on a client’s life. These reports go beyond the basics, giving you a deeper understanding of the physical and functional limitations that affect your client’s daily activities and long-term health; more specifically, their ability to perform work related activities, activities of daily living, and leisure activities.

2. Forward-Thinking Projections: With our Medical Cost Projections, you can plan and argue for appropriate compensation based on anticipated medical needs of non-catastrophic cases. These projections are essential for creating compelling, forward-looking arguments that resonate with juries and ensure just settlements.

3. Life Care Planning: Our Life Care Plans are an indispensable tool in long-term catastrophic injury cases . They outline future medical and care needs, providing a blueprint for the lifetime impact of injuries. This allows you to advocate for comprehensive settlements that truly reflect your client’s future requirements.

Enhance Your Legal Strategy with IRC:

By integrating our expert insights into your legal strategy, you not only strengthen your current cases but also enhance your reputation as a thorough and compassionate advocate. Our reports provide the solid evidence and detailed analysis that underpin persuasive legal arguments, making them invaluable assets in your legal toolkit.

Ready to Transform Your Approach?

Don’t let your cases be undermined by insufficient evidence. Let Injury Reporting Consultants arm you with the insights you need to master the art of injury claims. Contact us today at 1-886-445-9990 or visit our website at injuryreportingconsultants.com for more information on our services.

Dr. Poppie founded Injury Reporting Consultants to help attorneys and insurance companies resolve personal injury cases through medical analysis and reporting. Injury Reporting Consultants is a collaborative team of dedicated medical professionals using their knowledge to ensure fair outcomes for all parties in personal injury cases.

Recognized specialties include Motor Vehicle Collision, Life Care Planning, Medical Cost Projection, Functional Capacity Evaluation, Quantification of Cognitive Impairments, Onsite Job Analysis, Functional Impairment and Disability, Workplace Injuries, Orthopedic Physical Therapy Standards of Care, Current Best Practices, Physical Therapy Malpractice, Negligence, File and Medical Record Review, Improper Documentation, Expert Rebuttal Reports, and Expert Testimony.

If you have a client that you would like to discuss their need for an expert report, please contact me directly at 720-982-2000 or email me at: brad@injuryreportingconsultants.com.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brad Poppie, DPT, CLCP, CFCE, CSCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Certified Life Care Planner
Medical Cost Projection Specialist
Certified Functional Capacity Evaluator

Transform your case outcomes with our expert reports!

Transform your case outcomes with our expert reports!

by | Oct 8, 2024 | Expert Reports

At Injury Reporting Consultants, we understand that the difference between a good outcome and a great one often hinges on the strength and clarity of your evidence. Our expert reports are meticulously crafted to provide the insights and data necessary to turn your cases around and secure success.

Unlock the Potential of Expert Reports:

  1. In-depth Analysis: Each of our reports, from Functional Capacity Evaluations to Life Care Plans, is the product of thorough analysis and deep industry knowledge backed by Evidence Based Practice Guidelines. Our experts delve into the specifics of each case, ensuring that no detail is overlooked.
  1. Customized to Your Case Needs: We tailor our reports to meet the unique demands of your specific case, providing data that is not only relevant but also actionable. This customization enhances the persuasiveness of your arguments in court or negotiation settings with the end goal of helping to assist your case settlement in mediation versus trial.
  2. A Track Record of Reliability: Our reports have consistently been pivotal in numerous high-stake cases, earning a reputation for reliability and trustworthiness. Whether you’re dealing with complex injury claims or disputing medical costs, our reports provide the backbone for your case strategy and become the foundation for impairment-based settlement demands.

Empower Your Legal Strategy:

With Injury Reporting Consultants, you gain more than just an expert medical-legal service provider—you gain a partner who is committed to increasing the educational value of your case to help in the settlement process. Our expert reports are designed to empower your legal strategy, giving you the tools to advocate effectively and confidently for your client.

Take the Next Step:

Ready to secure better outcomes and turn your cases around? Contact us at 1-866-445-9990 or visit our website to find out how our expert reports can make a definitive difference in your legal practice.

Dr. Poppie founded Injury Reporting Consultants to help attorneys and insurance companies resolve personal injury cases through medical analysis and reporting. Injury Reporting Consultants is a collaborative team of dedicated medical professionals using their knowledge to ensure fair outcomes for all parties in personal injury cases.

Recognized specialties include Motor Vehicle Collision, Life Care Planning, Medical Cost Projection, Functional Capacity Evaluation, Quantification of Cognitive Impairment, Onsite Job Analysis, Functional Impairment and Disability, Workplace Injuries, Orthopedic Physical Therapy Standards of Care, Physical Therapy Malpractice, Negligence, File and Medical Record Review, Improper Documentation, Expert Rebuttal Reports, and Expert Testimony.

If you have a client that you would like to discuss their need for an expert report, please contact me directly at 720-982-2000 or email me at: brad@injuryreportingconsultants.com.

 Sincerely,

Dr. Brad Poppie, DPT, CLCP, CFCE, CSCS  

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Certified Life Care Planner

Medical Cost Projection Specialist 

Certified Functional Capacity Evaluator

Put the Kibosh on Lowball Settlement Offer Nonsense!

Put the Kibosh on Lowball Settlement Offer Nonsense!

by | Oct 8, 2024 | Expert Reports, IRC Services

Put the Kibosh on Lowball Settlement Offer Nonsense!

The initial settlement offer received from the insurance adjuster is typically so low that you will need to take a second and third look at it to make sure you read it correctly. The insurance company will use every trick in the book and ludicrous claims defending their lack of consideration towards justifying a fair settlement offer.  So why do insurance companies lowball? Because they can.

You may have the “perfect” personal injury case on paper proving no preexisting conditions, clear liability towards the offending party, received positive diagnostic imaging findings, and ensured your client diligently attended doctor-recommended treatment/therapies. And even after all of this, your client may still be experiencing ongoing pain and functional limitations. So, one must ask, “Why on earth would the insurance company still give a lowball settlement offer?” Again, because they can.

Inadvertently, what the insurance company is telling you is that even after you have dotted all of your “I’s” and crossed all of your “T’s”, you haven’t proven to them how all of your client’s injuries have affected their ability to provide for their family, care for themselves, or participate in the leisure activities they once did before their injuries. 

I know it sounds weird, but by simply dotting all of your “I’s” and crossing all of your “T’s”, you are still only bringing a knife to a gunfight in hopes of obtaining a fair settlement from the insurance company. The fact of the matter is that the injured person is simply a number to the insurance company and the injured client’s claim is punched into a computer program that equates their injury to a set value of the claim.

 

So how do we combat these lowball settlement offers? You have to arm your client’s case with heavy ammunition to not only get the insurance company’s attention, but also fully educate them on why your client deserves an appropriate settlement. You must come out of the gate with both double-barrels-ablaze.  

 

A proven way to do this is through a trial-tested functional abilities evaluation report that has over 4 decades of widespread usage in the personal injury and workers comp arena. This evaluation, better known as the Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE), is the industry standard on how your client’s impairments and disabilities from their collision affect their livelihood; more specifically their ability to perform work-related activities, activities of daily living, and leisure activities. 

 

Don’t get caught up in the unnecessary back-and-forth negotiations with the insurance company unless you have the answer to the question, “How does your client’s impairments affect their life?” Get an FCE to help educate the insurance company and aid in a fair and swift settlement.

Schedule a consultation
cognitive functional capacity evaluation

Request a Free Case Evaluation

At IRC, we understand every person’s life is affected differently by injury and so is their case.

As a result, we offer free case evaluations to personal injury attorneys to help us better understand your needs and ensure the best possible outcomes for you and your client.

Please, fill out this form or give us a call at 1-866-445-8880. We will get back to you as soon as possible. 

If the matter is urgent, please let us know in the message so that we can prioritize the request.

1-866-445-8880

We serve clients nationwide and internationally.

 

Does Your Case Truly Support Your Demand Letter Settlement Request?

Does Your Case Truly Support Your Demand Letter Settlement Request?

by | Nov 14, 2023 | Demand Letters, Expert Reports, IRC Services, Life Care Plan, Medical cost projections, Resources for Mediation

Drafting a demand letter is an essential step in the process of resolving legal disputes. It serves as a formal request for settlement and outlines your clients’ grievances, the desired outcome, and the consequences if their demands are not met. However, before sending out a demand letter, it’s crucial to evaluate whether your case genuinely substantiates your settlement request.

The cornerstone of any demand letter are the legal claims you are asserting. These claims form the foundation for your settlement request and must be substantiated by credible evidence. There are two primary reasons why insurance companies often don’t take your demand settlement package seriously:

1. Inadequate documentation of diagnosable impairments:  

Having reviewed hundreds of personal injury cases over the years, I’ve observed countless instances where ALL diagnosable impairments are not documented, inadequately documented, or completely disregarded and left unattended.

For instance, in many cases involving clients with multiple trauma injuries resulting from a motor vehicle collision, injuries are often prioritized based on their life-threatening or most severe pain-inducing nature which may cause overshadowing of less apparent impairments. Orthopedic impairments like broken bones, herniated discs, facet injuries, and ligament tears take precedence, while these less-obvious issues, such as short-term memory deficits, decreased attention span, dizziness, blurred vision, and tinnitus, often go undiagnosed and consequently remain undocumented. These signs are often symptoms of post-concussive and mild traumatic brain injuries and when left undocumented, can cause your client’s case to be severely undervalued.

2. Lack of Quantification of Diagnosed Impairments:

Orthopedic and cognitive impairments that are not quantified in terms of their severity and their impact on your clients’ lives are typically inputted into an insurance company’s system to generate a low-ball valuation based on the insurer’s subjective assessment of the impairments’ worth.

It is crucial to quantify how these impairments affect your clients’ daily lives, including their ability to provide for their family, perform activities of daily living, and engage in leisure activities. The most trial-tested, valid, and objectively reliable method to quantify your clients’ impairments is through a Functional Capacity Evaluation to assess physical abilities or a Cognitive Functional Capacity Evaluation to evaluate cognitive deficits and their effects on executive functioning skills, concentration, and attention span.

Before sending out a demand letter and making a settlement request, it is essential to evaluate whether your case comprehensively and quantitatively supports the impairments upon which you base your demands. By taking these two pivotal steps into account, you can significantly enhance the chances of achieving a successful resolution to your dispute.

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Dr. Brad Poppie has over 20 years of personal injury experience providing care as a treating doctor, coordinating rehabilitative case management, and expert trial testimony services.  If you have a client that you would like to discuss their need for an expert report, please contact me directly at 720-982-2000 or email me at: brad@injuryreportingconsultants.com.

 
 
Your Case Is Too Important To Entrust With Amateurs

Your Case Is Too Important To Entrust With Amateurs

by | Oct 10, 2023 | Expert Reports, IRC Services, Life Care Plan

Suffering from a personal injury can be a life-altering event causing physical pain, emotional distress, and financial burden to your client. For such cases, seeking appropriate experts becomes crucial to ensuring you have the ammunition needed to properly represent your case.

Your experts not only educate the insurance company about the client’s diagnosis, functional impairments, and future care needs, but they also paint a picture of how these impairments affect the client’s life. Therefore, deciding which medical-legal expert to entrust your personal injury case with, is not to be taken lightly.

The Complexities of Personal Injury Cases:

While there are many expert medical professionals out there, not all possess the expertise and experience necessary to navigate the complexities of personal injury cases.

Personal injury cases encompass a wide range of incidents including car accidents, slip-and-fall, medical malpractice, and workplace injuries. Each case is unique, involving intricate legal and medical aspects that require careful analysis and attention. Amateur “experts”, or Life Care Planners who specialize in Senior Care rather than Personal Injury, lack the knowledge to fully understand the nuances of case management, establishing causation, quantification of impairments, and determining future care needs. Their inexperience risks critical errors that often jeopardize the chances of receiving fair compensation for your client.

Navigating What Expert to Hire:

Navigating the sea of possible medical-legal experts can be a daunting task. After all, you are entrusting this expert to make potential life-altering opinions regarding your client’s impairments and future care. Therefore, it is imperative to choose wisely.

An amateur expert might struggle to meet deadlines, miss important documents, or mishandle future care considerations for your client due to their lack of experience or understanding of the full extent of your client’s impairment.

In contrast, a seasoned and professional medical-legal expert with years of experience has a deep understanding of the legal landscape, ensuring that every step is executed efficiently and effectively.

Doctor life care planners work within their respective scope of practice allowing them to perform specialized examinations on the client as well as fully analyze the client’s medical records. This supports the doctor life care planner’s authority to opine not only their current care, future care, and future costs, but also how those three elements coexist with the client’s impairments and disabilities and affect the client’s life. A doctor life care planner can also help streamline the damages report process and improve the likelihood of a settlement being procured in mediation as opposed to trial.

Trial Experience:

While many personal injury cases are settled out of court, some do proceed to trial. In such instances, having an experienced medical-legal expert by your side, with a track record for winning on the stand can make a world of difference. Amateur experts struggle to present a compelling opinion and lack the courtroom presence and advocacy skills needed to properly educate and sway a judge or jury. On the contrary, skilled medical-legal experts are well-versed in courtroom dynamics, and their expertise can help tip the scales in your clients’ favor.

When choosing a doctor life care planner, consider one that has decades of experience treating the types of patients and impairments that your client is suffering from to support their credibility on the stand. After all, it’s not the question of if the authored Life Care Plan can hold up in court, but rather the question of if the one who authored the plan can hold up in court.

Conclusion:

When faced with a personal injury, the decision to seek the appropriate medical-legal expert should be backed by careful research and consideration. While amateurs might offer lower fees, the potential risks and consequences of entrusting your case to them far outweigh any initial savings. Personal injury cases demand a level of expertise, experience, and dedication that only seasoned professionals can provide. By partnering with an established medical-legal expert, you can rest assured that your case is in capable hands, increasing your chances of receiving the compensation your client rightfully deserves.

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Dr. Brad Poppie has over 20 years of personal injury experience providing care as a treating doctor, coordinating rehabilitative case management, and expert trial testimony services. If you have a client that you would like to discuss their need for an expert report, please contact me directly at 720-982-2000 or email me at: brad@injuryreportingconsultants.com.