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Functional Capacity Evaluations in Michigan

Beacon Rehab, a Proven Damages Expert Supporting Michigan Cases of Personal Injury

When you need a thoroughly documented functional capacity evaluation in Michigan, Beacon Rehab brings more than 40 years of evaluation experience to your case.

Call us today at (734) 665-8326 or send us a message to request an evaluation.

Beacon Rehabilitation in Michigan

Beacon Rehabilitation serves the communities in the state of Michigan and is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Service Area – Michigan

Contact

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

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About Beacon Rehab

Beacon Rehab consolidates the full range of damage expert services within a single provider. Attorneys nationwide turn to Mr. Smolarski for life care planning, functional capacity evaluations, vocational testing, forensic economic analysis, and Day-and-a-Life Filming.

Ronald Smolarski established Beacon Rehab in 1979, and he serves attorneys representing plaintiffs as well as defendants in personal injury matters. With over more than four decades as a Certified Functional Capacity Evaluator, he has developed an effective evaluation methodology grounded in peer-reviewed research.

He holds the following credentials:

  • 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 Michigan?

Consider the following advantages Mr. Smolarski offers to attorneys seeking functional capacity evaluations in Michigan.

  • Four decades of producing damage documentation suitable for legal proceedings
  • 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
  • Contributed to recognized industry journals, including the Journal of Forensic Vocational Analysis
  • Veteran of the United States Air Force

Call us today at (734) 665-8326 or send us a message to request an evaluation.

Testimonials

Christopher Cooke
Attorney at Law

“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 works alongside plaintiff and defense personal injury attorneys as a one-stop damage expert. Mr. Smolarski prepares clear, reliable reports that illustrate, in clear terms, your client’s worker traits, aptitude, achievement levels, physical capabilities, and environment tolerances.

Services

Beacon Rehab offers the following services within its comprehensive service framework:

Life Care Planning

Our life care plans document the purpose, frequency, duration, and geographic costs of an injured individual’s medical care needs.

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Future Medical Cost Projections

Projections of future medical expenses support mediation and settlement negotiations. Unlike a life care plan, Mr. Smolarski can produce this type of projection without involving additional professionals. Future medical cost projections can reduce the total investment in the case.

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Functional Capacity Evaluations

FCEs provide clarity on whether an individual can work at a competitive rate, at full range of motion, and at a sustained rate after their injury. Mr. Smolarski also conducts the same evaluation for family law matters, including divorce proceedings, where an individual’s physical capability is a relevant consideration.

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Vocational Evaluations

Vocational evaluations determine an individual’s earning capacity along with their employability, both at the present time and over the longer term.

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What Does an Evaluation Cover?

Hand placing metal pins into a pegboard during a dexterity test, beside a grip dynamometer, a tray of pins and a stopwatch

A functional capacity evaluation typically covers the following components:

  • Lifting strength evaluated through the entire range of motion, performed at a sustained, work-appropriate pace
  • Finger dexterity, tested under the same conditions
  • Manual dexterity, tested under the same conditions
  • Motor coordination, tested under the same conditions
  • The evaluee’s response to pain during physical exertion
  • Whether the evaluee maintains consistent effort and engagement throughout the session
  • Internal consistency reviews that confirm the reliability of the data

Our Methodology & Process

Mr. Smolarski bases his testing protocols on peer-reviewed research and incorporates both the physical and the behavioral dimensions of an individual’s functional capacity.

He collects physical data through measurements of the upper and lower body. At the same time, he documents how the individual responds and conducts themselves as testing proceeds. The goal is to establish whether your client/claimant retains the ability to perform the essential duties of a specific occupation. Mr. Smolarski then compares the resulting findings against data representing the general working population, which supplies a defensible reference point for the matter at hand.

Person lifting a storage bin from a shelf while an evaluator records observations on a clipboard

The Importance of Functional Capacity Evaluations

Our functional capacity evaluations in Michigan offer the strongest support in matters where the outcome depends on documenting exactly what activities an individual can still perform.

Requests for an FCE come from several sources. Treating physicians, attorneys, insurance adjusters, and employers may request one when uncertainty exists regarding an injured individual’s ability to work, or when divorce proceedings call for documented evidence of physical capability.

Evaluator taking notes on a clipboard while a person lifts a wooden crate at a work-simulation station

What Does a Functional Capacity Evaluation Look Like?

For clients recovering from a physical or neurological injury, as well as those involved in divorce proceedings, Mr. Smolarski structures his Michigan FCEs to address questions such as the following:

  • Whether your client can perform sustained work at an acceptable pace
  • Whether full-time hours are feasible, or whether part-time work is more appropriate, with or without modifications
  • Whether your client has lost the capacity for regular employment entirely, leaving only lighter activity or recreation as realistic options

Frequently Asked Questions About Functional Capacity Evaluations in Michigan

Learn more about functional capacity evaluations.

Beacon Rehabilitation is Your One-Stop Damage Expert. Contact Us Today!

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