Retaining an economist in a motor vehicle accident matter follows the same steps as any injury claim: conflict check, written scope, and a records request that reaches the employer and benefit plans at once. The scope should match the injury. For a bounded loss the engagement may be limited to past wages and a short future period; for a catastrophic crash it covers lost earnings and earning capacity, fringe benefits, household services, and the present value of a life care plan. Counsel should also identify the sources of post-injury work capacity and future care so the economist is not asked to supply either.
Checklist
Run the conflict check on the parties, insurers, and counsel
Scope the engagement to the components the injury actually supports
Request tax returns, W-2s or 1099s, pay stubs, and the employer's records of the absence and any return
Identify who will supply the work-capacity opinion and any life care plan, and when
Confirm the disclosure deadline and the format the venue requires
Questions to ask the economist
How do you scope a report for a moderate injury so its cost stays proportionate to the claim?
How do you document a return to work at reduced earnings as a continuing loss?
What do you need from the employer beyond the pay records?
How do you treat lost overtime or a second job?
Timeline
About one week for retention and the records request, then two to four weeks of analysis after the records arrive, then one to two weeks for the draft and final report. A bounded past-loss calculation can move faster.
Required documents
Tax returns and W-2s or 1099s for the years before and after the crash
Pay stubs and employer records documenting the absence and any return to work
Benefit plan documents
Medical opinions on work restrictions and any life care plan or treatment projection
Common pitfalls
Scoping a full damages report for a claim whose loss is short and documented, which wastes fees and invites criticism
Scoping a narrow report for a claim whose loss will continue, which leaves front-end components unclaimed
Failing to obtain the employer's attendance and return-to-work records, which anchor the past loss
Yes. Many engagements begin with a past loss and a preliminary future range, then expand to household services and future care when the medical picture settles. The engagement letter should allow for that, and the report deadline should leave room for the added components.
What does the economist need from the employer?
The attendance and payroll records that show the dates out of work and any return, the personnel file entries on the person's position and pay progression, and the benefit plan summaries for retirement and health coverage. Those records anchor the past loss and the fringe benefit rate. A signed authorization at retention lets the request go out with the client's own documents.
How is the cost kept proportionate to a moderate injury claim?
By scoping the engagement to the components the injury supports and by phasing the work. A past-loss calculation and a bounded future period can be completed as a short engagement, and the letter can reserve the right to add household services and future care if the medical picture changes. The report states only what was valued, so a narrow scope does not read as an incomplete analysis.
References
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Current Population Survey (CPS). U.S. Department of Labor. bls.gov
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC). U.S. Department of Labor. bls.gov
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). American Time Use Survey (ATUS). U.S. Department of Labor. bls.gov