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Beware the independent medical examination

On Behalf of | Oct 30, 2020 | Construction Injuries

Construction work can be extremely dangerous. Those who perform their duties in this arena are often exposed to heavy machinery, great heights, swiftly moving traffic, and repetitive motions. Each of these can result in painful injuries that can disrupt your life in a number of ways. As you struggle to find a way to deal with the unexpected harm dealt to you, you can face some very trying financial times. Medical expenses and rehabilitation costs can be overwhelming, particularly in light of your inability to work and earn a wage. While a successful workers’ compensation claim might provide you with much needed relief, those benefits aren’t absolute.

The importance of the independent medical examination

Even if you are awarded workers’ compensation benefits, the insurance company handling your claim may request an independent medical examination. This examination is usually used against you in an attempt to either reduce or completely halt your benefits. So, if you’re required to attend an independent medical examination, then you need to be careful about how you act and what you say. You should also be sure to document any conversations that were had so that you can refer back to them later if you need to.

Litigating disputes

There’s a reasonable probability that the insurance company’s medical professional will render an opinion that is different from your doctor’s. This spurs the insurance company to seek a decrease in your benefits or a cessation of them altogether. But you don’t have to just sit there and accept the report generated by the independent medical examiner. Instead, you can gather the evidence needed to try to discredit the report and lend more reliability to your doctor’s opinion. These contested hearings can get complicated given that they can involve many medical issues, which is why you might not want to face these matters on your own.

Develop a strategy from the beginning

From the start, you need to anticipate an independent medical examination. There may be investigators watching you in the days leading up to your evaluation, and offhand comments made during the examination can be twisted out of context and used to deny you the benefits you need. Therefore, you need to have a clear strategy from the very outset of your case. An attorney who is experienced in this area of the law can help you navigate the process and aggressively argue on your behalf when the time comes. Hopefully then you can obtain the benefits you need to reach the fullest recovery possible.

 

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