Catastrophic Injury Life Care Plan Cost Calculator
Catastrophic injury settlements are valued from the life care plan — the certified cost of medical care, equipment, attendant care, and rehab over the victim's remaining life. Calculate baseline plan cost for spinal cord, TBI, or burn injuries.
| Base annual medical cost | — |
| Annual attendant care | — |
| Equipment + rehab (annualized) | — |
| Total annual life care cost | — |
| Lifetime cost (inflation-adjusted) | — |
| Present value @ 3% discount | — |
A life care plan (LCP) is a certified estimate of the lifetime cost of medical care, equipment, attendant care, and rehabilitation for a catastrophically injured person. Prepared by a Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP), it's the foundation of economic damages in catastrophic personal injury cases — typically $5M-$20M+ for spinal cord injury, severe traumatic brain injury, and major burn cases.
What's Included in an LCP
Medical care (specialists, surgery, hospitalization), pharmaceuticals, equipment (wheelchairs, modified vehicle, home modifications), attendant care (often 12-24 hrs/day for high-quadriplegia), rehab/therapy, transportation, and case management. Each line item has cost basis and replacement frequency.
Present Value
Courts use present value (typically 3% Treasury discount rate) to convert lifetime cost into today's dollars. A $30M lifetime cost might have a $12-15M present value. Defense economists argue for higher discount rates (5-6%) to shrink the number; plaintiff economists argue for lower (2-3%) with higher medical inflation (4-6%).
Total Settlement Value
LCP present value + lost earning capacity + past medical bills + pain & suffering (1.5-5× economic damages in catastrophic cases) = total demand. Punitive damages add for egregious cases (drunk driving, gross negligence). Final settlement usually 60-85% of demand depending on liability strength.
Last updated May 2026. Sources: NSCISC SCI Cost Data, CDC TBI Data, American Burn Association Repository.