An independent medical examination (IME) is an exam requested by the insurance company. While the insurance company may say the goal of the exam is to confirm the severity of your injuries, the doctors who are hired to perform these exams often reach conclusions that favor the insurance company.
For example, doctors who perform IMEs often find the victim’s injuries are not as severe as the victim is claiming. They may question your treating doctor’s conclusion that you have yet to reach maximum medical improvement.
Insurance companies know the more severe the injury, the more they are likely going to have to pay to settle the claim. It is in their best interest to get a medical opinion that downplays the severity of your injuries.
While the goal of an examination by your treating doctor is to find out the severity of your injuries and determine treatment options, an IME doctor is not concerned about treating your injuries. He or she is not going to offer you medical advice.