{"id":18412,"date":"2026-10-27T21:41:29","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T21:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slamdunkattorney.com\/guides\/catastrophic-injuries-georgia\/life-care-plan-catastrophic-injury\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T08:28:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T08:28:35","slug":"life-care-plan-catastrophic-injury","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/slamdunkattorney.com\/guides\/catastrophic-injuries-georgia\/life-care-plan-catastrophic-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Life Care Plan for Catastrophic Injury in Georgia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Catastrophic Injuries | Duluth, Georgia<\/p>

Planning Ahead After a Catastrophic Injury in Georgia<\/h1>

A life care plan lays out the medical treatment, therapy, equipment and daily support a serious injury may require for years to come. Here is how it works and how our team can help you prepare.<\/p>

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By Peter F. Jaraysi \u00b7 Published October 27, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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A life care plan for a catastrophic injury is a written estimate of the medical, therapy, equipment, and daily-living care a seriously injured person will likely need for the rest of their life. It turns an uncertain future into a list of specific needs and costs. This guide explains how these plans are built, how they fit into a Georgia injury claim, and what families in Duluth, Lawrenceville, Marietta, and across metro Atlanta can gather now.<\/p>\n

What Is a Life Care Plan?<\/h2>\n

A life care plan is a document that projects the future care a person with a serious injury will likely need. It lists each need, explains why it’s needed, and estimates what it costs over time. Injuries such as paralysis, traumatic brain injury, amputation, and severe burns often create needs that last for decades. MedlinePlus paralysis overview<\/a> describes paralysis as a loss of muscle function that can result from catastrophic injuries, such as spinal cord injuries or a broken neck.<\/p>\n

Each item in a plan should tie back to something in the record. A surgeon’s recommendation, a therapist’s notes, or a doctor’s statement about equipment can anchor a line item. Without that link, a future need is only a guess. With it, the need has a basis.<\/p>\n

Planners usually prepare the plan after the injured person’s condition has settled enough to project long-term needs. Early in treatment, doctors are often still deciding what care will be required. That is why a plan often comes months after the first hospital bills.<\/p>\n

For the bigger picture on these injuries and the claims they support, read our guide on catastrophic injuries in Georgia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

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Who Prepares a Life Care Plan and Why It Matters in a Claim<\/h2>\n

A life care planner is the professional who builds the plan. Many planners come from nursing, rehabilitation, or related health backgrounds. The planner reviews medical records, talks with the injured person and family, and consults with treating physicians about what care is needed.<\/p>\n

Why does this matter in a claim? O.C.G.A. \u00a7 51-12-2<\/a> says general damages are those the law presumes to flow from any wrongful act. They can be recovered without proof of any amount. Special damages actually flow from the wrong, so they must be proved.<\/p>\n

A life care plan usually shows the future costs an injury may create. Those costs are separate from bills already paid. Keeping that line clear helps a judge, jury, or insurer read the claim the same way. A plan built on thin records is also easier to challenge, so the sources behind each entry matter.<\/p>\n

Common Elements of a Life Care Plan<\/h2>\n

Most plans group future needs into clear categories. Each category usually states what is needed, how often, and for how long. Typical items include:<\/p>\n