Loss of Household Services for Personal Injury Cases
Household Services applied to personal injury litigation: methodology, deliverables, and case-specific considerations.
How Loss of Household Services applies to Personal Injury
A vocational evaluation establishes residual functional capacity, transferable skills, and labor market options consistent with post-injury medical restrictions. The analysis supports earning capacity opinion and accommodation planning.
Typical deliverables
A written expert report, supporting data appendices, and, when retained, deposition and trial testimony.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a vocational evaluation warranted in a personal injury case?
A vocational evaluation is typically warranted when the injury is alleged to have reduced the claimant's earning capacity or ability to sustain competitive employment, or when future employability is contested.
What is the difference between lost earnings and loss of earning capacity?
Lost earnings reflect actual wages the claimant did not receive. Loss of earning capacity is a broader vocational concept reflecting the difference between pre-injury and post-injury capacity to earn, regardless of whether that capacity was being fully realized prior to injury.
Are household services losses always included in personal injury damages?
Household services losses are considered when the claimant performed unpaid services (childcare, home maintenance, meal preparation) that the injury now prevents. Valuation uses time-use data and local replacement service rates.
References
- BLS Occupational Employment StatisticsGovernment
- BLS American Time Use SurveyGovernment
- O*NET OnLineGovernment
Ready to Get Started on household services engagements for personal injury cases?
Contact KWVRS to discuss scope, timing, and the deliverables appropriate to the matter. Plaintiff and defense.