Insurance companies make money by doing all they can to avoid paying out insurance policies. As generous as they may seem, they are a business and must do all they can to profit. That’s why auto insurance prices are some of the most inflated, and one of the most effective tools the insurance industry uses to withhold claim compensation is the Compulsory Medical Examination.
If you’ve been involved in an accident and your injury claim has been denied, experienced car accident lawyers can help you recover what’s rightfully yours. This is especially true when you’ve suffered severe injuries.
Compulsory Medical Examination Definition
A compulsory medical examination (CME) is a governmental or insurance-required health examination carried out by a qualified healthcare professional. The purpose of a compulsory medical examination is to evaluate your physical or mental health to ensure compliance with specific legal, safety, or occupational standards and determine if you’re entitled to compensation for accident injuries.
CMEs often cover a range from essential physical inspections to more intricate evaluations. The results of a CME frequently influence legal cases, job eligibility, or your ability to perform particular assignments safely. Since these exams are obligatory, refusing to comply may result in legal or administrative consequences.
What To Expect in a Compulsory Medical Examination?
Since Florida is a no-fault state, your insurance policy will handle your accident. Typically, your insurance company will send you to a doctor for a Compulsory Medical Examination (CME). During your first-party CME, meaning your insurer pays for it, the doctor will do all they can to determine that you’re healthy. Why do they do this? So that they can demonstrate that you’re not entitled to damages. If your CME determines you have not suffered damages from the accident, the insurance company can cut your medical benefits.
Preparing for a Compulsory Medical Examination in Florida
Many professional personal injury specialists believe CMEs required by insurers are often unethical because the doctors they use, although they seem warm and compassionate, frequently misdiagnose injury victims intentionally. The insurance company usually uses these CMEs and doctors to diminish or deflect the responsibility for your injury-related expenses.
The adept Florida personal injury attorneys at Englander Peebles suggest you approach your CME like a deposition or trial. You need to be serious yet likable and understand the gravity of the appointment.
Strategies To Combat an Unethical CME
What you do once obligated to undergo a CME can determine how it affects your claim. Schedule an appointment with your physician on the same day as your CME appointment. Your doctor’s records can be used to battle faulty CME reports, especially when your CME report is inaccurate.
You may also proactively get your doctor to send a letter to the CME ahead of detailing his opinions of your injuries and informing the CME physician of his recommended care plan for you. A faulty CME could also harm your doctor because if the CME outlines that you’re healthy, you may not be able to return to your physician in the future because your insurance carrier may deem them unnecessary. Your doctor should be willing to take the time to write such a letter for you because if he does no
If you’ve had a CME completed and you were cut off from your insurance benefits, speaking with a skilled PIP lawyer can help you fight and possibly sue your insurance company to reinstate your benefits.
What Will Happen At Your Compulsory Medical Examination?
Before your CME, the CME doctor will get familiar with your treatment records. They’ll ask you questions about your past medical care, including any procedures you’ve had. They may ask about your mental and behavioral health history, specifically instances of substance use or mental health diagnoses.
Your CME will consist of an oral and physical examination. Typically, the CME doctor will speak with you about what occurred and your resulting injuries. The physician will likely take notes during the meeting and monitor your demeanor. After being questioned, the CME medic will physically examine you and note your symptoms and whatever else they may observe. CMEs typically last one to two hours.
Your Florida Car Accident Attorney Can Guide You Through the CME Process
Car accident lawyers can help you do the following:
- Prepare you for a CME
- Make requests to ensure the CME is handled properly
- Ask for explanations when a CME is rejected
- Defend you in court if necessary
- Advise you on what steps to take
If you’ve been harmed at no fault of your own and need legal assistance, adept personal injury attorneys in Florida recommend turning to Englander Peebles for professional legal assistance.