#10 What will it cost me to talk to an attorney about the Independent Medical Exam (IME)?

QUESTION: What will it cost me to talk to an attorney about the Independent Medical Exam, IME that I’m required to attend?​

ANSWER: There is no fee to consult with a personal injury attorney. Lawyers who represent clients in personal injury matters offer no-fee, no-obligation initial consultations. During your meeting with an attorney, they will ask you a series of questions about your accident and your personal injury claim. They will also explain the purpose of the Independent Medical Exam (IME), and advise you on how to prepare for your appointment. Whether it makes sense for you to hire an attorney or not, it will be very beneficial to talk with a lawyer if you are required to attend an IME. They will provide guidance to help you protect your benefits and your claim.

What will it cost me to talk to an attorney about the Independent Medical Exam, IME that I’m required to attend?

Consulting with a personal injury attorney about your upcoming Independent Medical Exam (IME) will cost you absolutely zero.

The only thing that will cost you is NOT talking to an experienced lawyer about attending your IME appointment.

It’s important to understand that the IME doctor is not part of your medical team and their job is NOT looking out for your health or recovery. Going to an IME is a requirement by the insurance company. When you attend an IME, you will see a doctor from the insurance company’s network of providers. Their job is to write a report for the insurance company that will justify ending the payment of your PIP benefits.

This is why it’s critically important in protecting your benefits and your personal injury claim to talk with an attorney who specializes in personal injury law. They offer no-fee, no-obligation consultations.

They’ll ask questions to understand the specific circumstances of your claim and injuries so that they can advise you on how to navigate the IME appointment that you’re required to attend.

While an IME is not formally defined as a test, essentially it is. The more you know about the purpose of an IME and what to do and not to do, the better position you’ll be in to protect yourself from losing your PIP medical benefits.

We use the word “protect” intentionally.

An IME is actually an adversarial process.

You’re not going to the IME appointment because the doctor who will be doing the exam is seeing you to help with your recovery from the injuries from your car accident. Of course, you’re going to be polite, courteous, and honest, but it’s important to understand that the IME doctor is not on your side and is not examining you to treat you. They have one job to do and that is to write a report for the insurance company to end the payment of your medical bills.

If the insurance company requires you to attend an IME, you can protect your PIP benefits and personal injury claim by:

1. Letting the medical providers you’re treating with know immediately that the insurance company is sending you to an IME
2. Talk with an experienced personal injury attorney in advance of your IME appointment to get informed about what an IME is and how to prepare for the exam
3. Continue to get the medical treatment that you need to help you recover from the injuries from your auto accident

At Bridge City Law, we talk to hundreds of people a year whom we do not represent.

We’re passionate about helping people who have been injured in car accidents get the advice and counsel they need so that they’re not taken advantage of by the insurance company. Whether we represent you or not, we want you to get the information you need to protect your PIP benefits, and your personal injury claim, so that you can take care of your health and wellbeing.

Whether you’re our client or not, we want to be a bridge of support for you.

We’ve developed a robust library of articles and videos organized into four topics which include our responses to the personal injury claim-related questions we’re asked most often.

• Top 10 Personal Injury Claim Mistakes to Avoid
• What You Need to Know About Your Claim
• How Are My Medical Bills & Wage Loss Paid
• How to Prepare for Your Independent Medical Exam

The articles provide advice and guidelines to help you navigate each phase of the personal injury claims process. Whether we represent you or not, we are passionate about helping you protect your rights, you receiving the medical care you need to recover from your injuries, and having the information you need to avoid mistakes that can harm your personal injury claim.