Introduction

Auto Insurance Companies will do everything they can to try and deny you the benefits to which you are entitled. If you are injured and looking to file a claim through your insurance company, chances are you will have to go through an Independent Medical Examination (IME) at some point during the claim process. Depending on how this process goes, your insurance company may try and deny you benefits and make your life tough! It’s important not to be discouraged by the scare-tactics of insurance companies and have a game plan if you are denied benefits due to a poor IME.

What is an Independent Medical Examination (IME)

You might be wondering: what exactly is an IME? Well, unlike the name suggests, an Independent Medical Examination has little to do with assessing your health and recovery timeline following an injury. In reality, an IME is a tool used by insurance companies to avoid paying your claim for benefits.

In theory, an IME is supposed to be performed by a neutral, third-party doctor. This examination is said to provide an objective assessment of a patient’s condition following an injury. Although the stated goal of these exams is objectivity and neutrality, the way in which they actually take place is anything but neutral.  The doctor conducting your IME is selected and paid for by the insurance company. This relationship creates an inherent bias, as the IME doctor may feel pressure to present findings that favor the insurance company. Given the biased nature of this relationship, many IME’s result in suspended payments and denied claims.

What to do if your IME goes poorly (It Probably Will)

By design, IME’s are not meant to help you. As discussed above, they are often biased and result in negative findings, downplaying the severity of your injury.  If you are going through the process of accessing your No-Fault PIP benefits through insurance, and are denied on the grounds of a negative IME, here are some actions you should take to ensure a net-positive outcome:

Continue Business as Usual: Although it may seem like a grave misfortune that a doctor has deemed your injury insignificant or not worthy of benefits, it’s important not to panic and immediately try to bill your health insurance instead. The correct course of action is to continue to bill your auto insurance for the injuries that you incurred. It is better for the payment to be denied by your auto insurance than for the insurance company to be able to claim they never received bills from you. If your insurance company does decide to deny you benefits based on the findings of your IME, rest assured that David and the team at Femminineo Law will have your back

File a First-Party Lawsuit:  If you are denied benefits following an injury and find yourself in a situation similar to the one described above, it is likely that David and his team will file a first-party lawsuit. This means Femminineo Law would be taking on two lawsuits simultaneously for you – one against your auto insurance company and one against the driver who caused your accident. You can rest assured that your benefits (medical bills, wage loss, services, etc.) will be paid through the first-party lawsuit process.

If you think you have been denied benefits you deserve, David can help – call today at (855) 65CRASH or contact us online at getdavidgetpaid.com.