Mobility is an essential element of any future cost of care report, particularly, in any catastrophic injury case (severely brain injured, burned, spinal cord injured, chronic pain, and mentally and/ or behaviourally challenged accident victims).

By Joseph Caprara of CBLAW posted in Rehabilitation on Monday, April 29, 2013.

Mobility is an essential element of any future cost of care report, particularly, in any catastrophic injury case (severely brain injured, burned, spinal cord injured, chronic pain, and mentally and/ or behaviourally challenged accident victims).

Moving physically around the home and community is central to daily life (i.e. attending work or school, running errands, visiting family and friends.) Moving unassisted throughout communities to conduct daily activities requires such physical capabilities as walking, climbing stairs, and standing. Musculoskeletal factors, cardio-respiratory fitness, balance, vision and other senses, neurological and cognitive abilities all affect a person’s capacity.

Without assistance or mobility aids, injured victims who experience difficulty walking or getting around experience increased isolation, anxiety, and depression. Often they seek care from primary care physicians for their underlying medical conditions, but physicians frequently fail to fully recognize patients’ functional problems . Rehabilitation experts are trained to assess mobility needs of individuals and the cost to assist that person for the rest of their lives.

Mobility aids are generally considered hierarchically and used sequentially as problems with weight-bearing, balance, or endurance increase. Starting with “low tech” canes and progressing to electric scooters and powered wheelchairs, there are a number of mobility aids that can reduce barriers to moving around the home and community.

When assessing the needs of an injured victim, a personal injury lawyer will address the following;

Consideration

Does the person have sufficient motor or other skills to be able to use proposed equipment (i.e. electric or all-terrain wheelchair, scooter, bath-lift, prostheses, etc) in the future?

Is the person presently using the proposed equipment?

Witnesses/ Experts

Rehabilitation expert, Occupational Therapist, Physicians

Documentation/ demonstrative evidence

Photo’s or model of equipment

The cost of assistive devices to purchase, upkeep and replace are factors that a proper future cost of care report will address.

The Trauma lawyers at CAPRARA BARRISTERS work with appropriately qualified Life Care Planners who identify the future needs of severely brain injured, burned, spinal cord injured, chronic pain, and mentally and/ or behaviourally challenged accident victims, and furnish us with the reports required to engage the co-operation and agreement of insurance companies or defence counsel to secure funding that will adequately meet the person’s lifetime needs.

Having the right medical, rehabilitation and legal team will help reduce anxiety, and smooth the road to recovery. If you have been involved in an accident you may be eligible to receive compensation. The Trauma Lawyers at CAPRARA BARRISTERS take numerous lawsuits to trial, and have helped many persons suffering from personal injuries. If you would like to learn more, feel free to call us and speak to a member of our team.

Joseph G. Caprara