Actuary Assesses Financial Impact Of Commercial Vehicle Accident

ByVictoria Negron

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Updated onJuly 31, 2018

This case involves a car that was rear-ended by a commercial vehicle. The passenger was thrown forward and her chest struck the dashboard of the car in which she was riding. In the weeks following the accident, she was diagnosed with cardiac complications. It was alleged that the rear-end collision caused significant heart damage to the plaintiff, including contusion, atrial fibrillation, hypotension, the life-long need for medication, the need for repeated cardioversion, and the need for vigilant monitoring of cardiac condition. An actuarial expert was sought to speak to how this collision may have impacted the passenger’s life expectancy.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. How will the cardiac conditions sustained affect the plaintiff's life expectancy?

2. What considerations are taken into account by actuaries based on this occurrence and these conditions?

Expert Witness Response E-007171

inline imageI am a professor of actuarial science and have taught classes in actuarial science for 10+ years. I am extensively published in the areas of life insurance and quantitative risk management, and I serve on several editorial boards. From my research and consulting work, I have experience with mortality models and life expectancy estimation. A cardiac condition can have a negative effect on the individual's life expectancy but the precise effects depend on the specific condition. Actuaries specializing on evaluating life insurance would consider such a condition in their underwriting that determines what survival/mortality probabilities to use. There are specialized life expectancy providers that provide personalized life expectancy evaluations for certain medical conditions. I have access to the data-sets of two large underwriters. Considering their deductions for certain conditions, it is possible to provide a more accurate answer for the individual in view based on the characteristics. I have been an expert for a case that relates to the secondary life insurance market (so-called life settlements). For evaluating such life settlements, the individualized life expediencies (accounting for medical conditions and personal characteristics) are also of key importance.

About the author

Victoria Negron

Victoria Negron

Victoria Negron has extensive experience in journalism and thought leadership in the legal space, with a background crafting content, whitepapers, webinars, and current event articles pertaining to the role of expert witnesses in complex litigation matters. She is a skilled professional specializing in B2B product marketing and content marketing. Currently, she serves as an Enterprise Product Marketing Manager at Postman, and previously held the position of Technical Product Marketing Manager at Palantir Technologies, where she developed her skills in launch strategies, go-to-market strategy, and competitive analysis.

Her expertise in content marketing was further refined during her tenure at the Expert Institute, where she progressed from a Marketing Writer to Senior Content Marketing Manager, and eventually to Associate Director of Content & Product Marketing. In these roles, she honed her abilities in digital marketing, SEO, content strategy, and thought leadership.

Educationally, Victoria holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida - Warrington College of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Art, and Hispanic Studies from Hamilton College. Her diverse educational background and professional experience have equipped her with a robust skill set in product marketing, content development, and strategic marketing initiatives.

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