Next, the injured worker will seek an immediate medical evaluation to determine the extent of their injury by an approved, “authorized” medical provider of their employer’s choosing — the specifics of this may be different depending on the state. If an injured worker seeks a second medical professional’s opinion, depending on their state there could be certain restrictions on this. For example, in Florida workers can only switch doctors once. To receive workers’ compensation, injured workers must submit to an independent medical examination or insurance medical exam. An IME, in theory, clarifies the worker’s medical condition and determines if the injury was caused by work-related activity. While the IME is meant to provide an accurate diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment, insurance companies often use this as a tool to limit payouts and liability. Assigned doctors can work in tandem with insurance companies to protect the financial interests of both parties, sometimes by denying the existence of an injury or wrongfully clearing an employee to return to work. To ensure that you are receiving the right prognosis, it is important to have an experienced attorney help you through the process.