Definition
A life care plan is a comprehensive expert document projecting the lifetime medical costs of a seriously injured person, prepared by a certified life care planner, used to establish future damages in civil litigation.
In California Dog Bite Cases
In serious dog bite cases involving permanent disfigurement, life care plans project the cost of future reconstructive surgeries, scar revision procedures, psychological treatment, and other long-term medical needs. For child victims, the plan must account for the child's growth (scars change as skin stretches through adolescence) and the likelihood of multiple revision procedures over decades.
California Law Context
California dog bite law under Civil Code Section 3342 provides a strict liability framework distinct from general negligence. The role of Life Care Plan in this framework — how it affects liability, damages, defenses, or procedure — is governed by the specific interaction between Section 3342's elements and the broader California personal injury law applicable to all civil claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Life Care Plan in California dog bite law?
A life care plan is a comprehensive expert document projecting the lifetime medical costs of a seriously injured person, prepared by a certified life care planner, used to establish future damages in civil litigation.
How does Life Care Plan apply to California dog bite cases?
In serious dog bite cases involving permanent disfigurement, life care plans project the cost of future reconstructive surgeries, scar revision procedures, psychological treatment, and other long-term medical needs. For child victims, the plan must account for the child's growth (scars change as skin stretches through adolescence) and the likelihood of multiple revision procedures over decades.
How does this term affect whether a dog bite victim can recover damages?
Life Care Plan affects dog bite recovery in California because Civil Code Section 3342 creates a strict liability framework where most general negligence defenses are unavailable. The specific role of Life Care Plan in this strict liability system — as opposed to a general negligence system — determines its practical significance to dog bite claimants and defendants in California.