After sustaining a serious injury in an accident that wasn’t your fault, full recovery may not be possible. Eventually, you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). But while you haven’t fully recovered, you have recovered as much as you like to. And even with more extensive treatment, you may not recover further. For your personal injury claims, this means something. Thus, you need to know more information about reaching MMI and why reaching this point matters for your injury case.
What to Know About MMI
If you reach MMI, this means that your injuries have healed as you want to. But you may still benefit from or require medical care for your injuries. If your injuries were minor, you may be able to return to your health state before the accident. This will be your point of MMI. But if you sustained a permanent or serious injury, reaching MMI may not mean you are fully healthy. For example, if you lost some motor functions, you may reach MMI after your most serious injuries are healed, but you may still be tied to a wheelchair.
MMI Determination
Your treating doctors will determine when you have reached MMI. If the insurer does not agree with your doctors’ conclusion, they may perform an independent medical examination to determine the seriousness of your injuries. The insurer may use the report of their recommended doctor as evidence for disputing or denying your treating doctor’s claims about how serious your injuries are and the ongoing treatment you need.
When Do You Reach MMI?
Each person is unique, so you cannot tell how long it can take you to reach MMI. When you can reach this point depends on the seriousness of your injury, your body’s response to treatment, and your ability to follow your doctor’s medical advice for recovery. Because reaching the point of MMI varies by person, you must seek immediate medical attention after an accident and keep up with the treatment your doctors recommend.
What to Expect After You Reach MMI?
After your treating doctors determine you have reached MMI, they can determine if your long-term or permanent injury requires future medical care. At this point, your accident lawyer can calculate your injury claim’s value, with consideration to your future damages. You must determine your total damages before you accept an insurance company’s settlement offer. But an insurer won’t be able to take advantage of you if you have an attorney on your side.
