Medico-Legal Services

Causation Analysis

Evidence-based determination of injury causation and apportionment

Fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon
Active clinical spine practice
Objective, evidence-based opinions
Peer-reviewed literature citations
Deposition and trial-ready

What You Receive

Detailed causation opinion grounded in medical literature
Analysis of whether injury resulted from claimed incident
Apportionment between traumatic injury and pre-existing degeneration
Assessment of natural disease progression vs. traumatic aggravation
Timeline correlation between incident and symptom onset
Biomechanical plausibility analysis
Citations to peer-reviewed studies supporting conclusions

Process & Timeline

1

Submit Records

Send medical records and case details

2

Evaluation

Thorough review and examination

3

Report Delivery

Comprehensive written opinion, typically 2-3 weeks

Who This Service Is For

Plaintiff attorneys establishing injury causation
Defense counsel challenging causation claims
Workers' compensation carriers determining compensability
Insurance adjusters evaluating claim validity
Employers defending work-injury claims

Why Causation Analysis Matters

Establishing medical causation is often the most contested issue in spine injury litigation. The question isn't whether the patient has a spinal condition—it's whether that condition was caused by the claimed incident or represents natural degenerative changes.

Key Causation Principles

  • Temporal relationship: When did symptoms begin relative to the incident?
  • Mechanism plausibility: Could the incident biomechanically cause this injury?
  • Imaging correlation: Do imaging findings support acute injury vs. chronic degeneration?
  • Pre-injury baseline: What was the patient's condition before the incident?
  • Symptom consistency: Are symptoms consistent with claimed injury mechanism?

Dr. Rastegar's causation opinions are based on objective medical evidence, peer-reviewed literature, and established causation principles recognized by courts and medical-legal professionals.

What Is Evaluated

Neutral, Defensible Opinions

Evidence-Based Methodology: All opinions are grounded in objective clinical findings, peer-reviewed literature, and established medical guidelines—not advocacy.

Equal Treatment: Whether representing plaintiff or defense, each case receives the same rigorous, unbiased analysis focused solely on the medical facts.

Deposition-Ready: Reports are written to withstand scrutiny, with clear rationale and supporting medical evidence for every conclusion.

Records Needed

  • Medical records for 2-5 years PRIOR to incident (essential for baseline comparison)
  • All post-incident medical records and imaging
  • Incident/accident report with detailed description of mechanism
  • Employment records and work history
  • Witness statements or depositions describing incident
  • Any surveillance footage or photographs of incident scene
  • Previous IME or medical opinions
  • Serial imaging showing progression over time

Submit a Case

We respond to all inquiries within 24 business hours.

Credentials

  • Board-certified, ABOS
  • FAAOS designation
  • Cleveland Clinic Fellowship
  • Licensed: OH, KY, MI, CA

Submit Your Case Inquiry

Get an objective, evidence-based medical opinion within 2-3 weeks

Professional Affiliations

AAOS • NASS • AMA • Cleveland Clinic • University of Chicago • UCLA • OHSU