Principle Attorney
In many cases where you’ve been hurt in a car accident, and in almost all serious workers’ compensation cases, you will be required to submit to what’s called an independent medical exam. It often goes by its initials – IME.
If you have medical payments coverage on your insurance, commonly called med-pay, your own insurer could ask for an IME. Our Denver accident lawyers have seen cases where a client’s own insurance company will try to avoid paying by using an IME to say the injuries are not related to the current accident or were pre-existing. IMEs are common in work comp cases, too, as insurers try to show your injuries aren’t that bad or aren’t related to your work accident. And if your cases goes to trial, the at-fault party’s insurer will almost certainly petition the court for an IME.
There are a couple of things you need to know before you go for an IME. First and most important: This medical exam is anything but independent. The doctor you will see has been hired and paid for by the insurance company. Second, while you will never hear anyone say it, the purpose of an IME is to have the doctor to write a report for the insurer that minimizes your injuries, to says that the treatment you’ve had wasn’t necessary or pre-existing, or to give the insurer an excuse to limit the amount of care you need. The insurance company will use that report to try to reduce how much money they have to pay you – or to deny your claim entirely.
And last, an IME isn’t the end of the world. As an auto accident attorney Denver, I can tell you that this is one of the biggest ploys insurers use to try to fatten their bottom lines. We’ve seen this tactic many times, and we know how to fight it. We will work with you on how to make the most of the IME.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you need the skills of a Denver accident lawyer with the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya. Give me a call at (303) 758-4777 or email me. Let’s set up a no-obligation meeting to talk about your case. You can also schedule a free meeting on our website at www.dlslawfirm.com/contact-us.