Functional Capacity Evaluations in Indiana
Beacon Rehab, a Proven Damages Expert Supporting Indiana Cases of Personal Injury
For more than 40 years, we have provided defensible findings to personal injury attorneys who need clear answers about a client’s physical limitations. Our functional capacity evaluations in Indiana are part of our one-stop damages approach.
Call us today at (734) 665-8326 or send us a message to request an evaluation.
Beacon Rehabilitation in Indiana
Beacon Rehabilitation serves the communities in the state of Indiana and is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Service Area – Indiana
Contact
- Phone: (734) 665-8326
- Fax: 734-665-2584
- Email: ron@beaconrehab.com
Business Hours
- Monday: 9 AM to 5 PM
- Tuesday: 9 AM to 5 PM
- Wednesday: 9 AM to 5 PM
- Thursday: 9 AM to 5 PM
- Friday: 9 AM to 5 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Social Media
About Beacon Rehab
Beacon Rehab serves as a one-stop damages expert, offering life care plans, forensic economic reports, vocational assessments, functional capacity evaluations, and Day-in-the-Life filming through a single point of contact.
Our founder, Ronald Smolarski, has more than 40 years of experience in the field. He provides expert testimony for plaintiff and defense personal injury attorneys, applying testing methods grounded in peer-reviewed research, ensuring that any findings remain reliable and defensible.
His credentials are listed below:
- Certified Life Care Planner
- Forensic Economist (CEA)
- Certified Functional Capacity Evaluator /Certified Disability Examiner II
- Certified Vocational Evaluator
- Diplomate – American Board of Vocational Experts
- Diplomate – Certified Rehabilitation Vocationologist
- Diplomate – American Board of Medical Psychotherapists and Psychodiagnosticians
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- Certified International Psychometric Evaluator
- Certified Case Manager
» Mr. Smolarski’s full Vitae (PDF File)
Why Choose Beacon Rehab for Functional Capacity Evaluations in Indiana?
Attorneys choose Beacon Rehab’s functional capacity evaluations in Indiana for the following reasons:
- More than four decades of experience delivering defensible findings
- Recognition as a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Certified Functional Capacity Evaluator, and International Psychometric Evaluation Certification
- Ongoing involvement in industry-leading associations, including the National Association of Disability Evaluating Professionals, American Rehabilitation Economic Association, and Association of Certified Life Care Planners
- Present in well-regarded industry journals, including the Journal of Forensic Vocational Analysis (ABVE)
- United States Air Force veteran
Call us today at (734) 665-8326 or send us a message to request an evaluation.
Testimonials
Christopher Cooke
“Ron Smolarski did a great job calculating the economic damages from the perspectives of lost economic opportunity and life care planning in a product liability and degloving amputation case. His expertise allowed the jury to understand the degree and extent of my client’s severe injuries, rendering a verdict of $27 million that compensated my client for his damages. Ron made himself available after hours during the course of the trial to answer my questions, which was very beneficial to the success of the case.”
George E. Potter
Attorney at Law
“Ron’s assistance in helping me prepare cross-examination was superb. He provided the most thorough job of evaluation I’ve ever seen from any rehabilitation consultant and made a major difference when it came to destroying my adversary’s case.”
Geoffrey Rettig
Attorney at Law
“Analysis was very in-depth. The depth was what made the difference. It made the case viable in the eyes of the skeptical adjuster. A true expert in his field. Unbiased and objective.”
J. Dallas Winegarden, Jr.
Attorney at Law
“Mr. Smolarski’s powerful presentation makes the case try itself as far as damages are concerned. He’s a superb Expert Witness.”
Wendy Schiller-Nichols
Attorney at Law
“Mr. Smolarski made a difference in my case that settled for over a million dollars. He was very experienced, professional, and testified well. I would definitely use him again in the future in my personal injury cases.”
We Work With
Personal Injury Attorneys/Lawyers
Beacon Rehab is trusted by attorneys on both the plaintiff and defense sides of personal injury matters to serve as their damages expert. The reports we issue illustrate, in clear terms, your client’s worker traits, aptitude, achievement levels, physical capabilities, and environment tolerances.
Services
By working with our firm, you have access to the following services through the same expert point of contact:
Life Care Planning
Each life care plan we produce captures the purpose, frequency, duration, and geographic costs of an injured individual’s medical care needs. Preparing the plan requires a consultative approach, with input from other professionals and relevant stakeholders.
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Future Medical Cost Projections
A future medical cost projection serves as a shorter alternative to a full life care plan. If a matter is heading toward mediation or settlement, projections are often the best approach. They can be produced internally without coordinating with external professionals, and the total investment in the case is more economical.
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Functional Capacity Evaluations
An FCE helps determine whether your client can work at a competitive rate, at full range of motion, and at a sustained rate after their injury. The same testing framework also applies to divorce matters, where physical capacity needs to be documented.
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Vocational Evaluations
Through objective testing, a vocational evaluation establishes wage-earning capacity and assesses both current and future employability.
Learn MoreWhat Does an Evaluation Cover?
Our functional capacity evaluations in Indiana may include:
- Lifting strength, measured through a full range of motion and at a pace the evaluee can sustain in actual employment
- Finger dexterity, recorded under the same working conditions
- Manual dexterity, recorded under the same working conditions
- Motor coordination, recorded under the same working conditions
- The evaluee’s ability to tolerate pain while sustaining physical activity
- Effort and motivation, observed throughout the testing session
- Test scores are triangulated to confirm the reliability of the evaluee’s results
Our Methodology & Process
Each testing protocol we use is based on published, peer-reviewed FCE research, and we assess two parallel dimensions: the evaluee’s physical capability and their behavior during testing.
On the physical side, we record measurements of upper and lower body function. On the behavioral side, we document responses, indicators of effort, and consistency throughout the session. The result is a clear answer to whether your client/claimant is able to perform the essential functions of a given occupation, with their scores compared against established population metrics. This provides a defined reference point that cannot be easily challenged.
The Importance of Functional Capacity Evaluations
FCE referrals generally come from treating physicians, attorneys preparing a case, insurance adjusters, or employers. In each case, the central question is whether the individual remains capable of earning a living, or, in certain family law matters, what their actual physical capacity is.
In a legal setting, FCEs are valuable because they replace subjective arguments with measurable data and concrete evidence.
What Does a Functional Capacity Evaluation Look Like?
Whether the case involves an orthopedic injury, a brain or spinal cord injury, or a divorce, the FCEs we perform are designed to answer three central questions:
- Is your client able to maintain standard employment at standard productivity?
- Is part-time, full-time, or modified work realistic, and under what conditions?
- If competitive employment is no longer possible, what level of activity remains within reach?
Frequently Asked Questions About Functional Capacity Evaluations in Indiana
Here are some FAQs about functional capacity evaluations:
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How Can a Functional Capacity Evaluation Strengthen a Personal Injury Case?
A functional capacity evaluation provides the objective, measurable evidence that personal injury cases often rely on. Rather than depending on a client’s self-reported limitations, an FCE produces standardized data on lifting capacity, dexterity, motor coordination, pain tolerance, and overall ability to perform at a competitive and sustained rate.
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Can Beacon Rehab Provide Expert Testimony Based on the FCEs?
Yes. Mr. Smolarski has delivered expert testimony in District Court, Circuit Court, Federal Court, Social Security hearings, and Workers’ Compensation proceedings on matters involving functional capacity evaluations, vocational evaluations, and more.
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Who is Going to Perform The Functional Capacity Evaluation?
The functional capacity evaluation is performed by Ronald Smolarski, the founder of Beacon Rehab and a Certified Functional Capacity Evaluator with more than forty years of professional experience.
Our Latest Articles on Functional Capacity Evaluations
Determine Wage Loss/Wage Capacity and Household Chores for Mediation or Settlement Only
McCroskey MVQS Transferable Skills Software Program, Journal of Forensic Vocational Analysis, Vol. 24 Winter
Scientific Method of Analyzing Occupations and Worker Trait Factor Analysis After a Worker Experiences an Injury
