Adult Survivor Damages: PTSD Documentation & Life-Care Planning (PA & NJ)
Sub-Topics: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder - Life Care Planning - Therapy - Medication
Edelstein Law Takes on Sexual Abuse and Assault - What are the damages?
Civil cases in Pennsylvania and New Jersey can recognize injuries that don’t show on a scan. The strongest files pair clear PTSD documentation with a life-care plan that covers therapy, medication management, and practical supports—priced locally and built to protect your privacy. Our job is to fund the care you actually need.
PTSD Documentation: What matters, and why?
Diagnosis + criteria mapping. Treater notes should connect symptoms to recognized criteria and identify when they began/worsened.
Function over labels. Concrete changes in work/school, sleep, concentration, relationships, and daily tasks.
Longitudinal measures. Use the same validated tools on a set cadence; the trend line is persuasive.
Treatment trail. Therapy type (TF-CBT, EMDR, etc.), frequency, medication trials, side effects, step-downs/relapses.
Corroboration. Brief employer/teacher/family statements about observable changes.
Life-Care Planning for Therapy & Medications (Edelstein Law’s Survivor-centered Plan)
A defensible PA & NJ plan converts needs into costs and durations:
Therapy cadence -Weekly → bi-weekly → maintenance; include booster sessions around anniversaries & triggers.
Psychiatry & Medication Management - Stabilization, labs if indicated, monitoring, medication adjustments.
Comorbidity care - Sleep treatment, pain management, GI, migraine care tied to chronic stress.
Access & stability- Transportation, childcare during sessions, safe tele-health options.
Care coordination - Time for scheduling, pharmacy issues, insurance appeals, record-keeping.
Costs - Local fee schedules (what insurance doesn’t cover), inflation assumptions, review points.
Four Steps to Turn Lived Impact into Proof
Keep a short weekly journal: Date, key symptoms, missed activities, therapy takeaways (only what you’re comfortable sharing).
Collect consistent records: Attendance summaries, after-visit notes, medication lists, accommodation letters.
Preserve digital evidence: Export messages/emails (original formats + PDFs). Save unedited photos if relevant.
Ask for a treater summary: When appropriate, request summaries instead of raw psychotherapy notes to protect privacy and clarity.
Privacy First (how we minimize exposure)
Minimum necessary: We request only what’s needed for your claim.
Protective orders & sealed filings: Keep sensitive details off public dockets when possible.
Clean roles: Your therapist treats; a separate expert (if needed) reviews records—boundaries matter.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey Spotlight
Deadlines: Time limits can be complex for adult survivors and may change by statute. We assess current rules and any revival windows.
Institutional defendants: Schools, churches, camps, and employers may have notice requirements or arbitration clauses. We preserve videos, photographs, and logs immediately and challenge unenforceable provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions for Edelstein Law’s Sexual Abuse Lawyers?
We Have Answers:
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Answer: No, Civil and criminal paths are separate. Civil cases focus on accountability and funding care; we coordinate with prosecutors only when it helps.
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Answer: We aim for treating-clinician summaries and narrow records under protective orders. Courts allow privacy safeguards; we push for the least intrusive option.
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Answer: Weekly is enough. Short, factual entries build a credible trend.
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Answer: Yes—claims seek to fund uncovered therapy, medications, transportation/childcare needed to attend, and future care.
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Answer: Initial meds, monitoring, labs as indicated, dose changes, side effects, refill or visit costs—priced with local rates and medical inflation.
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Answer: Most steps are on paper first. If testimony is required, we request trauma-informed accommodations and prepare you carefully.
Confidential Support & Education: State & Federal Compensation
RAINN (National Sexual Assault Hotline): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) • Online chat
Call your local crisis center
Edelstein Law - Take Action Today! Consultations are free!
If you’re considering your next steps, let us help you create a tailored, confidential plan that addresses every critical aspect: from preserving crucial evidence to documenting PTSD comprehensively, and developing a life-care plan that ensures your ongoing support and funding— all handled with the utmost discretion and respect for your privacy. Contact us today for a thorough, compassionate consultation focused on protecting your rights and securing your future.
Edelstein Law, LLP • www.edelsteinlaw.com • (215) 893-9311 • Serving all counties in PA & NJ
CONFIDENTIALITY DISCLAIMER: Information only—not legal advice. Reading this page or contacting Edelstein Law does not create an attorney–client relationship. Do not send confidential information or PHI until representation is confirmed in a signed engagement agreement. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome. Deadlines apply.
