Vocational Evaluations for Personal Injury Litigation

Lost earnings and lost earning capacity are often a major component of the economic damages in a personal injury case. The process for calculating loss of earning capacity requires first determining pre-injury earning capacity and then determining post-injury earning capacity. In most cases, having a vocational evaluation is a crucial element in determining both pre-injury and post-injury earning capacity.

A vocational evaluation is a process to predict or estimate work behaviors and vocational potential. Vocational evaluators use multiple methods, tools and approaches to provide accurate vocational evaluations and assessments. Vocational assessments focus on the injured person’s interests, aptitudes, physical capabilities and their established work history. A vocational assessment includes review of medical records, a clinical interview with the injured person, and review of detailed educational and employment records.

RPC Vocational Evaluations

RPC’s personal injury team of Certified Vocational Evaluators and Certified Rehabilitation Counselors provide the following expert analyses to determine the pre-injury and post-injury employability of the injured party:

• Review of injured party’s educational and medical records.
• Vocational assessment – analysis of aptitudes, educational attainment and potential, and work history.
• Expert reports and testimony.
• Job requirements and employability assessment – analysis of medical limitations, retraining possibilities and adaptive technology.
• Transferrable skills analysis.
• Job and labor market evaluation to identify available, appropriate jobs for the injured party
• Rehabilitation plans.
• Definition of reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

For more information, contact Athenna Dill, Personal Injury Case Manager, 512.371.8005, adill@rpcconsulting.com.