Full Answer
How often do I have to submit to an Ime?
Under Pennsylvania law, an insurance company can only ask you to submit to an IME twice a year. The doctor performing the IME will receive all relevant medical information before the examination. The insurance company often includes a letter that requests the doctor to examine you for a specific reason:
What is an IME in a Workers Comp case?
The purpose of an IME is for the insurance company to gather information from an expert to determine whether to award or deny you workers’ compensation benefits. An IME does not constitute any form of medical treatment. Even if an IME doctor gives you advice about how to treat your injuries, you are not obliged to follow it.
Can I dispute an Ime doctor's report?
You have a right to correct any factual mistakes made by the IME doctor. You have a right to receive a copy of the IME doctor’s written report. If there are any errors about your treatment or medical history on the report, you can dispute them. It's important to remember that an IME is different than an examination by your regular doctor.
How long does a Workers Comp case take to settle?
Average Duration of a Workers’ Compensation Case Length of a Workers' Comp CaseFor half of workers, it took 13 to 24 months to resolve their workers' comp cases. Duration of Case When Filing an AppealWorkers' comp cases took 20% longer when the worker filed an appeal or requested a hearing.
What happens after an IME is completed?
Once the IME is complete, the examining physician will issue a report including their conclusions and opinions. The report will likely be framed to respond to the disputed concerns or questions asked by the insurance company.
What is IME in disability?
After submitting a long-term disability claim, you may be asked to endure an independent medical examination (IME). The purpose of this examination is to clear up any inconsistencies regarding your claim.
What to do if you can't resolve a disability claim?
In that case, the next step is to hire a skilled disability attorney to help with your case. Having an attorney on your side can make all the difference in the outcome of your claim.
Can you discredit an IME physician?
Discrediting an IME physician’s opinion can be very challenging (but not impossible ).
Can IME affect disability?
The results of the IME can seriously impact your disability claim. It’s common for insurance companies and even judges to view IME doctors as “experts” and weigh their reports heavily. It’s also common for judges to see IME physicians as more objective than treating physicians, even though that’s not always the case.
How long after IME appointment can I contact my attorney?
No one can tell you that for certain. Each doctor is different (some are fast, some are slow). If your attorney does not get one by thirty days after your IME appointment, I would contact your attorney.
How long does it take for a lawyer to receive a case?
It usually takes a few weeks for your lawyer to received it. This can be delayed due to the doctor or the defense attorney, If it has been a longer period your attorney may want to call the defense attorney to follow up.
Is there a time frame for IME?
There really is no time frame in which to receive IME results or to get a settlement date. If you are in litigation, you should have deadlines set by the court. If not, the time frame depends upon your circumstances and how active the attorney and insurance company engage in negotiations. This question should be for your attorney, who knows your case best...
How long does it take to report an injury to the employer?
If the injury is not serious enough to lead to immediate hospitalization, the worker must report their injury to their employer or to their supervisor within 120 days. In reality, the sooner a worker reports an injury, the better.
How often do you have to submit an IME in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania law, an insurance company can only ask you to submit to an IME twice a year. The doctor performing the IME will receive all relevant medical information before the examination.
What Is an Independent Medical Exam (IME)?
If you’ve been injured on the job and asked to undergo an IME, the first thing you need to understand about the examination is that it’s not independent. A doctor chosen and paid by the insurance company examines you. They then give the insurance company their opinion about your injury. The doctor’s opinion includes the cause of your injury, your disability, your ability to work and any future medical treatments you may require.
How Will an Unfavorable IME Impact My PA Workers’ Comp Case?
You, or your lawyer, can challenge the findings of an IME, such as when:
Why Am I Required to Attend an IME?
Here is what you need to know: If you refuse to attend an IME, the insurance company may hire a lawyer to take you to court to stop your benefits. Your benefits should not be stopped without a hearing.
What Should I Tell the Doctor During an IME?
If there is one good piece of advice about speaking to a doctor during an IME it’s stick to the facts:
What is an IME in workers comp?
If the employee submits a workers’ comp claim, the employer’s insurance company may ask the injured worker to have an independent medical examination (IME). A doctor chosen by the insurance company will perform the examination.
What is an IME in insurance?
In most cases, the insurance company will send the worker to an independent medical examination (IME) by a doctor of its choosing, in order to get a second opinion as to the worker’s disability. The IME doctor will then write a report, which the worker will have an opportunity to review and challenge.
What percentage of workers report that it took a long time to reach a fair settlement agreement?
As to other causes of delay, 12% of workers reported that it took a long time to reach a fair settlement agreement, 7% reported that it took a long time to find a lawyer, and 19% reported that the delay was due to a variety of other factors.
Why are workers comp cases delayed?
This may have been because of a lack of communication on the lawyer’s part—for example, the case might have been progressing as it should, but the lawyer didn’t keep the worker informed about what was going on. The delay may also have been because the lawyer was juggling too many cases; because attorneys’ fees are capped in most states, workers’ comp lawyers tend to carry heavier caseloads than other attorneys.
Why do insurance companies stall workers compensation?
While some of these actions may be part of a legitimate defense of a claim, insurance companies may also use delay tactics to frustrate workers into giving up or settling for a low amount to avoid the hassle.
Why does workers comp take longer to appeal?
The longer time frame makes sense because a workers’ compensation appeal takes additional time and effort. Once the worker files the appeal, the case is assigned to a workers’ compensation judge and set for a hearing.
Why is there a delay in workers compensation?
According to 34% of our readers, the number one cause of delay was due to the employer or its insurance company not moving fast enough.
How many people believe there is a delay in workers compensation?
The overwhelming majority of readers, 90% , believed that there was a delay in their workers’ compensation cases. We asked our readers to report what they believed to be a source of delay in their cases.
What does an adjuster do when you get a claim?
The adjuster will review all of the above. Once she does she’ll contact you in an attempt to minimize your damages, in effect “low-balling” your claim and settlement amount.
Can you text a funding company?
By submitting, you agree to the Terms & Conditions. You consent that the funding company you are matched with or a call center may contact you by phone and/or text, even if you are on a Do Not Call Registry. You agree these messages may be auto-dialed or pre-recorded, and consent is not a condition of purchase.
Is our response legal advice?
Disclaimer: Our response is not formal legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. It is generic legal information based on the very limited information provided. Do not rely upon the information in our response, or anywhere else on this site, when deciding the proper course of a legal matter. Always get a personalized case review from a local attorney.
Do you get a personalized case evaluation from a licensed attorney?
The above is general information. Laws change frequently, and across jurisdictions. You should get a personalized case evaluation from a licensed attorney.
What is an IME in medical court?
Most courts require you, the plaintiff, to undergo an independent medical examination (IME), or an examination by a doctor other than your usual physicians and specialists. The doctor then writes up a report about your medical condition, recommended treatment, and whether you're likely to suffer permanent impairment.
What is the process of IME?
Most courts require you, the plaintiff, to undergo an independent medical examination (IME), or an examination by a doctor other than your usual physicians and specialists. The doctor then writes up a report about your medical condition, recommended treatment, and whether you're likely to suffer permanent impairment.
What happens if a plaintiff has a medical complaint after an accident?
If a plaintiff has a variety of medical complaints after an accident, such as a back injury and a traumatic brain injury, the defendant usually demands that the plaintiff have an evaluation by a specialist for injury. Your condition changes.
Is an IME doctor confidential?
It's important to remember that an IME is different than an examination by your regular doctor. Anything you tell the IME physician is not protected by doctor-patient confidentiality, and can be used against you in court. The best course of action is to be straightforward and truthful with the doctor, and not to offer any information that's not requested. Resist the urge to exaggerate about your injuries or limitations, as this can hurt your credibility with a judge.
Do you have to travel to attend an IME?
Although you have to attend the examination, you should be aware of the following provisos of an IME: You cannot be required to travel a long distance from your home to attend the exam. The defendant who orders the IME is required to pay for the costs of the exam.
Can you correct IME errors?
You have a right to correct any factual mistakes made by the IME doctor.
Can a defendant request a second IME?
If the defendant doesn’t like the results from the first IME, it cannot request a second IME for the same condition .
Average Duration of A Workers’ Compensation Case
Factors That Affect The Length of A Workers’ Comp Case
- Many factors influence how long or short a workers’ compensation case will be, including: 1. whether the worker hires a lawyer 2. whether the worker tries to negotiate a better settlement, and 3. whether the worker requests a workers’ compensation hearing or files an appeal. A longer workers’ compensation case was not always a bad thing, though. Factors that tended to lengthe…
Common Reasons For Workers' Comp Delays
- The overwhelming majority of readers, 90%, believed that there was a delay in their workers’ compensation cases. We asked our readers to report what they believed to be a source of delay in their cases. According to 34% of our readers, the number one cause of delay was due to the employer or its insurance company not moving fast enough. This isn’t too surprising, given insur…
Consult with A Workers' Comp Lawyer
- While surveys are helpful in determining current trends and practices, they can’t predict how long your workers’ compensation case will take. The duration of your case will depend on a number of factors particular to your situation, including how long you receive treatment for your injuries, the degree of any permanent impairment you’ve suffered, and what state you were working in at the …