Catastrophic injuries are usually so serious that they impact the victim’s ability to work and earn a living. Such injuries may arise from various incidents, including motor vehicle accidents, workplace incidents, and medical malpractice. In New York, handling a catastrophic injury claim is a complex task, which also involves the role of vocational experts.
A vocational expert is a skilled professional who assesses an individual’s ability to work after an injury. Their expertise focuses on evaluating how injuries impact employability, available job opportunities, and future earning potential. This assessment involves not only the physical body but also the psychological health of the individual.
Therefore, vocational experts have a critical role to play. By working with an attorney from the Kelner & Kelner law firm and a vocational expert, you can be on your way to getting fair compensation. Meanwhile, read this blog to understand how a vocational expert can help your case and the benefits of working with one.
What is the role of a vocational expert?
A vocational expert has many roles, the most important ones being the following:
- Assessing your earning capacity.
Vocational experts evaluate your earning capacity before you get injured with the help of your educational background, work experience, and past earnings. There are various factors that are assessed during this process, including age, education, work history, and any preexisting health conditions. This helps one to understand their ability to earn prior to the injury.
- Comparison to post-injury earning potential.
Once your pre-injury earning capacity has been determined, a vocational expert compares that with your post-injury earning potential while also taking into account any limitations that may have been caused by the accident. The expert may speak with your doctor or another medical professional to understand the severity of the impairments and how they affect job performance.
If you are unable to return to your previous job, vocational experts determine which roles you can still fulfill that can help you earn. This allows one to know one’s true earning capabilities even after undergoing a catastrophic accident.
- Analyzing transferable skills.
One of the key functions of a vocational expert is to analyze any transferable skills the injured party may have that they can utilize despite their limitations. This involves understanding all of the injured party’s skills and determining how these can be applied to alternative roles. This also helps in developing rehabilitation plans, which may include training or education.
How can a vocational expert help you during your legal proceedings?
Vocational experts can help you build your case. If your work capabilities have significantly reduced, as well as your earning potential, a vocational expert can help prepare reports. They can mention in the reports that your loss of income is due to your injuries and disabilities. These reports are highly credible as they come from an expert in the field.
Reports generated by vocational experts serve not only as documentation of an individual’s employability but also serve as important evidence in court. They help calculate economic damages as well as prove them.
In many cases, the insurance companies refuse to believe the extent of your injuries to avoid making a large payment. These reports can be used as assertive evidence to support claims for damages.
Besides preparing your reports, vocational experts can provide testimony that supports claims for damages related to occupational capacities. Since they are a third party with no interest in the outcome of the claim, they offer unbiased expert opinions, which are vital in the eyes of the judge and the jury.
Maximize your compensation with a vocational expert!
Catastrophic injuries are usually very serious and can limit your working capabilities. If your potential to earn has been reduced due to someone’s negligence, you deserve justice. Hire an attorney in New York today to start building your case!