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Tips for preparing for your independent medical examination

On Behalf of | Sep 12, 2022 | Workers' Compensation

When you’re injured at work, you hope that your employer will do what is necessary to ensure that you’re well taken care of. Although your employer may be able to offer you workers’ compensation benefits to try to offset your lost wages and your medical expenses, the sad reality is that far too often, employers and their insurance companies try to do everything they can to avoid paying these benefits.

One way they do so is by requiring an independent medical examination by someone other than your doctor. While it can be stressful to navigate this evaluation, there are some things that you can do to better position yourself to show that you qualify for the benefits you seek.

Preparing for you independent medical examination

You want your independent medical examination to go well. By doing each of the following, you may increase your chances that it will:

  • Be honest about your injuries, including when they occurred and how they affect your ability to live your normal life and work. Any missing information or exaggerations are likely to be found out, which can jeopardize your benefits.
  • Be consistent with your statements. Whether you’re talking about how the injury occurred or how treatments have impacted your recovery, you want to make sure that you’re not leaving the door open to arguments that you’re not credible.
  • See your doctor on the same day as the independent medical examiner so that you have a second opinion on how you presented on that day.
  • Be specific about your injuries and their impact.
  • Show up on time.
  • Be appropriately dressed.
  • Act in accordance with the extent of your injuries so that you’re giving an accurate portrayal of how your injuries impact you.

Do you need legal assistance with your workers’ compensation claim?

There are a lot of moving parts to a workers’ compensation claim, including the independent medical examination. So, if you’d like to learn more about how to position yourself for success, please consider discussing your circumstances with an attorney of your choosing.

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