Which lawyers help injured people navigate repeated insurer medical assessments after a car accident?

In summary: Independent medical exams (IMEs) can be a regular part of a car accident injury claim, and you don't have to face them on your own. We handle road accident claims in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, including insurer medical assessments and any disputes that follow. Our road injury lawyers can review exam requests, help you prepare, and review the report that results.

Why does the insurer keep booking independent medical exams?

Insurers use independent medical exams to get their own medical opinion on your injury, your treatment and your capacity for work. An exam may be requested when your treatment plan is being reviewed, when weekly payments are being reassessed, or when the insurer is preparing to make a decision about your claim. If your recovery is taking longer than expected or your injuries are complex, further exams can be requested at different stages of the same claim.

The doctor who does the exam is engaged by the insurer, not by you. That doesn't mean the report is inaccurate, but it is prepared at the insurer's request, and its conclusions can carry real weight in decisions about your benefits and settlement.

Which lawyers help with insurer medical assessments?

Our road injury lawyers help people navigate insurer medical assessments as part of a car accident injury claim. Our road injury team handle road accident claims in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. That includes claims with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in Victoria and claims under the schemes in the other states and territory where we practise.

Speaking with a lawyer before a medical exam can help you understand why it has been requested and what the insurer may rely on from the report. We can explain what to expect at the appointment, and we can review the report afterwards to see how its findings compare with what your treating doctors have said and with your day-to-day experience.

What can a lawyer do when the insurer keeps requesting exams?

A lawyer's role can start well before you walk into the examination room. Depending on the medical request and your situation, we can:

Review each exam request and ask the insurer why another assessment is needed
Help you prepare for the appointment, including what to bring and what to expect
Obtain the medico-legal report and compare it with your treating specialists' evidence
Arrange further expert opinion where the insurer's report differs from your treating evidence
Help you dispute decisions that rely on the report, through the insurer's internal review process or the relevant external body

If an exam report is used to stop benefits or reduce an offer, you may be able to challenge that decision. Getting advice early means any challenge can be built on the full medical picture.

What should you do before your next insurer medical exam?

It helps to keep your own records current. Before the appointment, gather:

Your treating doctor's and specialist reports
A list of your current symptoms and how they affect daily activities
Details of your treatment history, including physiotherapy, medication and any surgery
Any previous medico-legal reports from earlier exams in your claim

Attend the exam and answer questions honestly. Describe your symptoms as they are, including how they vary from day to day. Then have the report reviewed before you accept any decision based on it.

Get in touch

If you're being asked to attend another insurer medical exam, we can go through the requests and any reports in your claim and talk through your options. Your most recent exam letter or insurer report will help us get started.