We conduct comprehensive and thorough psychological evaluations to assist in legal and personal cases, including.
Assessing an individual’s mental fitness for legal proceedings.
Determining an individual’s mental state at the time of a commission of an offense.
Providing insights into parental capacity and parental competency to assist in determining the well-being of a child.
Determining the origin and impact of emotional distress and trauma-related disorders related to personal injury cases.
Our evidence-based evaluations and reports are designed to withstand legal scrutiny, and offer clear, data driven findings that aid attorneys, courts, and individuals in making informed decisions.
Our psychologists work closely with attorneys to provide psychological data that can strengthen legal strategies and improve case and client outcomes.
● Competency & Mental Status Assessments – Evaluations of individuals’ current mental status and uncovering underlying psychological conditions that clarify and determine an individual’s mental fitness and ability to understand and to participate in their case.
● Court-Ready Reports and Expert Testimony – Offering experienced clinicians with experience in providing expert testimony based on independent, unbiased, and scientifically supported evaluations.
● Unbiased, Evidence-Based Assessments – Ensuring psychological opinions are based on evidence-based data and clinical expertise.
An individual’s cognitive functioning often plays a crucial role in many legal cases, and our assessments help determine the presence of:
● Memory Impairment – Evaluating an individual’s ability to remember and recall different types of environmental information.
● Cognitive Impairments – Assessing the presence of deficits in cognitive functioning including memory, attention, communication and executive functions related to injury, trauma, neurological conditions, and/or psychological impact.
● Legal and Medical Applications – Supporting various legal claims including personal injury, criminal, and guardianship matters.
Science-Based Testing for Accuracy and Reliability
Our assessments use validated and reliable psychological testing measures to ensure objective, defensible results in legal settings.
Psychological trauma is often overlooked in personal injury cases. Our evaluations document the mental health impact of injuries, providing:
● Mental Health Documentation for Legal Claims – Supporting claims for compensation arising out of psychological impact based on clinical expertise and psychological data.
● Assessments of Long-Term Effects – Evaluating emotional and cognitive challenges resulting from an injury.
● Treatment and Recovery Guidance – Making specific recommendations when requested that help individuals access appropriate mental health support and work to heal psychological injuries.
● “PEAK Forensic Psych Services was incredibly helpful in my legal case. Their evaluations were clear and insightful”
● “The psychological support I received helped me cope with the emotional impact of my injury. Highly recommend”
● “As a lawyer, PEAK evaluations are invaluable in building strong cases. Their expertise is unmatched.”
● “The memory test was exactly what I needed after my accident. PEAK’s team was professional and thorough.”
When most people think of personal injury cases, physical injuries first come to mind. Many times, these cases are based solely on these injuries. However, psychological injuries can be just as debilitating and deserve equal attention in the realm of personal injury law. At PEAK Forensic Psych Services, we specialize in comprehensive forensic psychological evaluations that help assess, document, and substantiate the psychological impact of injurious and traumatic incidents. Our expert evaluations provide objective, evidence-based assessments that are critical for understanding the holistic impact suffered by an individual and support legal proceedings and claims by ensuring that psychological injuries and trauma are recognized and compensated appropriately.
Psychological injuries encompass a wide range of conditions including anxiety, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), adjustment disorders and other conditions. Recognizing the full spectrum of trauma-related disorders and the impact of psychological and emotional distress arising from an injury is essential in advocating for proper legal recognition. Our psychologists utilize highly reliable and valid, standardized psychological measures that help conceptualize and validate
conditions often seen in personal injury cases.
A formal diagnosis from a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist is crucial in substantiating a legal claim for psychological injury. Our forensic evaluations utilize DSM-5 criteria and include ICD-10 diagnostic codes, ensuring a scientifically grounded and legally defensible assessment of the client’s mental health.
Psychological trauma can significantly impair daily functioning, affecting work, relationships, and overall well-being. Thorough documentation through psychological evaluations, review of relevant records, personal journals, witness statements, and collateral interviews help demonstrate the severity of the psychological injury.
Medical documentation plays a critical role in personal injury claims. Psychological symptoms should be reported alongside physical injuries to create a clear connection between the traumatic event and its emotional impact, as well as identify whether or not a psychological injury was directly cause by a specific event. Our expert reports ensure that all psychological injuries are formally documented and included in medical and legal records.
Court proceedings often require expert witness testimony to explain the nature and impact of psychological injuries. Our team of experienced psychologists has over 40 years of courtroom testimony experience, providing clear, credible, and compelling testimony that strengthens legal arguments.
Many psychological injuries require long-term therapy, psychiatric care, and medication management. Our evaluations can help to calculate current and future psychological treatment costs, ensuring that compensation includes ongoing mental health care expenses.
Unlike some physical injuries, psychological trauma and injury can have permanent effects on an individual’s life. Our assessments and expert opinions helpillustrate the chronic nature of psychological injuries, supporting claims for long-term compensation.
Legal precedents play a significant role in the recognition of emotional and psychological damage in personal injury cases. Our psychologists may reference previous legal cases, psychological research, and established diagnostic criteria to support claims and advocate for appropriate compensation.
Psychological trauma may not manifest immediately—it can take weeks, months, or even years to fully develop. Seeking a psychological evaluation as soon as symptoms appear can be essential; however, psychological evaluations conducted at a later time often provide diagnostic clarity after an individual’s early challenges have begun to settle.
Yes. Courts recognize that psychological trauma can exist independently of physical injuries. A formal forensic evaluation can establish the causal link between the traumatic event and its psychological impact.
Seeking treatment strengthens your case, it demonstrates the validity and severity of your psychological injury. Courts and insurance companies are more likely to recognize claims that include documented therapy, psychological, neuropsychological and psychiatric evaluations.
At PEAK Forensic Psych Services, we specialize in psychological evaluations for personal injury, criminal, civil, and family law cases. Our experienced PSYPACT credentialed psychologists can provide expert virtual assessments across all PSYPACT participating states. With over 40 years of experience conducting
clinical and forensic evaluations, treatment and providing courtroom testimony, we ensure that justifiable psychological injuries receive the recognition and
compensation they deserve.
