Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer
Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer
Handling Personal Injury Claims in the Seattle Area and Throughout Washington Since 1995

My name is Chris Thayer and I am a personal injury attorney practicing in downtown Seattle. I handle personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims throughout the greater Seattle area, including Issaquah, Mercer Island and Kirkland.

I am here to help you.

Call for a free consultation (206) 340-2008

Seattle Injury Lawyers Discuss Independent Medical Exams

Posted Thursday, July 2, 2015 by Chris Thayer

Seattle Injury Lawyers Discuss Independent Medical Exams

If one were merely to be exposed to the term “independent medical exam,” one would very naturally conclude that it is a neutral, objective, unbiased method for gathering more information in a personal injury claim. The reality, however, is quite different.

Not Independent IMEs have been employed with greater regularity by the defense or insurance carrier and would thus be more aptly considered “defense medical examinations” or “adverse medical examinations.” When the injured plaintiff places his or her physical or mental health in question as a result of a defendant’s actions, the defense has the right to obtain medical evidence that contradicts the plaintiff’s claims. However, many IME doctors realize the defense will benefit from a certain outcome of the IME report and skew the findings accordingly.

The Likelihood of an IME

Certain cases are more likely to involve an IME than others. If there is any reason to believe the plaintiff is less than forthright or exaggerating the claim, an IME will almost certainly be requested, for example. In other cases, a high demand by plaintiff’s counsel may trigger an IME.

Speak with Your Lawyer

If an IME is inevitable, it is important to discuss the matter with your lawyer. Among the guidance he or she may provide include:

Contact a Seattle Injury Lawyer for Legal Advice

Sadly, you cannot expect an IME to be fair. It is best to discuss the entire matter with experienced counsel. Call Chris Thayer, an injury lawyers Seattle group, at (206) 340-2008.