Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Independent Medical Exams to Determine Injuries from Massachusetts Car Accidents
If you’ve been injured in a Massachusetts car accident, you probably have a lot of questions. Dealing with insurance companies and hospitals can be draining and the rules may seem confusing. You may even be asked to undergo an independent medical exam to determine your injuries.
Your main goal should be recovering your health and well being. A Boston injury lawyer can help you sort through the laws and paperwork involved with filing a personal injury claim and offer advice on the best steps to take when dealing with insurance issues.
Insurance and Car Accident Injuries
In Massachusetts, motorists are required to have a minimum amount of insurance coverage in place. This coverage is used to help pay the medical bills and property damage that result from a car accident.
If you have been injured in an auto accident and another party is at fault, the negligent party’s insurance may be required to pay for your medical bills up to the limit of their coverage.
Should your medical costs exceed the negligent party’s insurance limit, legal action can be taken and the negligent party may need to pay the remaining costs out of their own funds, or your insurance company may need to step in to make the payments.
Determining the Extent of Your Accident Injuries
When you are injured in a car crash and you seek compensation for your injuries, you need to obtain proof of your injuries from a doctor. Many times, an insurance company will request that you undergo an independent medical exam (IME) to provide proof of your injuries.
An independent medical exam is a physical examination performed by a doctor who is neutral to the case. IME is used to determine whether the injuries you are claiming are genuine. The insurance company may ask for this type of exam to ensure your personal doctor is not exaggerating your injury claims to help your case.
If you are an accident victim and are asked to undergo an independent medical exam, it’s important to go to the requested appointment, as failure to appear at your scheduled IME can invalidate your claim.
Be honest with your IME physician, and tell them everything about your injuries, symptoms, and how they are affecting your daily life. Your injury lawyer can walk you through this process.
In some cases, the other party involved in the accident will want to choose the independent medical exam doctor. If you and your attorney disagree with the other party’s choice and are unable to come to a compromise, the court may need to choose an independent physician to perform the examination.
What to Ask Your Personal Injury Attorney
An auto accident can ruin and completely change your life, so learning about your rights and determining liability are essential steps for a successful car accident claim.
When you are interviewing accident injury attorneys in your area, always remember to ask critical questions to better understand the extent of your lawyer’s experience with car accident cases in Massachusetts:
- How long have you been practicing personal injury law in MA?
- What is the largest settlement or verdict you have won on behalf of your clients?
- Do you have experience with independent medical exams in motor vehicle accident cases?
The Kiley Law Group, a personal injury law firm based in Boston and Andover, has been representing clients in accident cases for the last 30 years. Our extensive record of success shows multi-million dollar settlements for clients in a variety of cases including motor vehicle accidents, brain injury, birth injury, child injury and abuse, wrongful death and other cases.
Call today for a Free Case Evaluation.
