After a car accident in Missouri, you may need to attend an Independent Medical Examination (IME), which is a one-time medical evaluation performed by a doctor chosen and paid for by an insurance company.
Despite being called “independent,” these exams serve to evaluate your injuries and determine if your medical treatment is reasonable and necessary from the insurance company’s perspective.
IMEs typically occur months after your accident as part of the legal discovery process, and the results can significantly impact your settlement negotiations.
Understanding how IMEs work is crucial for protecting your rights and your claim. In fact, insurance companies use these examinations to challenge the extent of your injuries, question the necessity of your treatment, or argue that you’ve recovered more than you actually have.
The doctor performing the IME writes a report that gets shared with the insurance company, and this report often becomes a key piece of evidence in settlement discussions or court proceedings.
This article explains what happens during an IME, how to prepare for the examination, your rights as a patient, and how we help clients challenge unfair or biased IME reports to protect their compensation.
What Is an Independent Medical Examination (IME)?
An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is a one-time medical evaluation performed by a doctor chosen by an insurance company. This exam happens after you’ve been injured in a car accident and are seeking compensation for your injuries.
The word “independent” is misleading. The insurance company pays for this exam and chooses the doctor. Their goal is to evaluate your injuries and determine if your medical treatment is reasonable and necessary.
In Missouri car accident cases, IMEs are part of the legal discovery process. They usually occur months after your accident while you’re still receiving medical care from your own doctors.
Understanding how IMEs work protects your rights and helps you prepare for what can be a challenging experience.
How Is an IME Different from Seeing Your Own Doctor
The biggest difference is purpose. Your doctor treats you and wants you to get better. The IME doctor evaluates your legal claim for the insurance company.
Your relationship with your treating doctor is ongoing and confidential. On the other hand, the IME is a one-time meeting where everything you say gets shared with the insurance company.
| Your Doctor | IME Doctor |
| Treats your injuries | Evaluates your claim |
| You choose them | Insurance company chooses |
| Ongoing relationship | One-time meeting |
| Confidential records | Shared with insurance |
| Provides treatment | No treatment given |
| Wants you healthy | Works for insurance company |
The IME doctor won’t give you medical advice, prescribe medications, or provide any treatment. Their job is to write a report about your condition for the insurance company.
This report can significantly impact your settlement negotiations. That’s why preparation is so important.
Who Can Require an IME in Missouri and When Must You Attend
Two situations can force you to attend an IME in Missouri. First, your own insurance policy might require it if you’re filing a claim for uninsured motorist benefits or personal injury protection.
Second, if you’ve filed a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, Missouri courts can order you to attend an IME. The defendant’s attorney will request this as part of their legal strategy.
Refusing a court-ordered IME can have serious consequences:
- Case dismissal: The judge may throw out your entire lawsuit
- Benefit suspension: Your insurance company may stop paying your claims
- Legal sanctions: The court may impose financial penalties
Our Missouri car accident lawyers can sometimes negotiate the terms of the IME. This might include choosing the location, limiting the exam scope, or selecting a doctor with the right specialty for your injuries.
What Happens During a Missouri IME
The evaluation begins the moment you arrive at the doctor’s office. Staff members often observe how you walk, sit, and move in the waiting room. They’re looking for signs that contradict your claimed injuries.
The doctor will start by reviewing your medical records and asking questions about your accident and injuries. The interview portion is typically brief.
The physical examination typically includes:
- Range of motion tests for your joints
- Strength assessments for your muscles
- Reflex and nerve function checks
- Observation of your posture and movement
Some doctors may try to catch you in inconsistencies. They might ask you to perform movements that seem impossible based on your claimed limitations. Others may try to provoke pain responses to test if your symptoms are genuine.
The duration of the exam varies depending on the complexity of your case. This brief timeframe is often criticized because it’s impossible to thoroughly evaluate someone’s condition in such a short period.
How Do You Prepare for an IME in Missouri
Proper preparation can make the difference between a fair evaluation and one that damages your case. Start preparing as soon as you learn about the scheduled IME.
What to Do Before the IME
Review all your medical records and treatment history before the appointment. Write down your current symptoms and how they affect your daily activities. This helps you give consistent, accurate answers.
Bring a complete list of all medications you’re taking. Include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and any supplements. The doctor will ask about these.
Talk with your attorney about the specific doctor performing the IME. Some doctors have reputations for being biased against injury victims, so your lawyer can tell you what to expect.
Arrive a little early, but wait outside or in your car until just before your appointment time. Extended waiting room observation gives them more opportunities to watch you.
What to Do During the IME
Be polite and cooperative, but remember this doctor works for the insurance company. Answer only the questions you’re asked without volunteering extra information.
Report all your pain and limitations accurately. Don’t exaggerate, but don’t downplay your symptoms either. If something hurts, say so clearly.
Avoid discussing how the accident happened or any settlement negotiations. These topics aren’t medically relevant and can only hurt your case.
If you can’t perform a requested movement or test, explain why. Don’t push through severe pain just to appear cooperative.
What to Do After the IME
Immediately write down everything you remember about the exam. Note what questions were asked, which tests were performed, and how long everything took. Record any comments the doctor made.
Share these notes with your attorney as soon as possible. This information helps them prepare for any negative findings in the IME report.
Consider scheduling an appointment with your own doctor the same day, just as seeking medical attention promptly after your initial accident was important.
What Questions Will the IME Doctor Ask
IME doctors ask questions designed to gather information that might help the insurance company reduce or deny your claim. Understanding their motives helps you answer carefully.
They’ll ask about your medical history, including previous injuries and pre-existing conditions, particularly looking for aggravated preexisting conditions they can use to minimize your claim.
Questions about the accident itself are common, even though they’re not medically necessary. They’re looking for inconsistencies between your account and other evidence in your case.
Daily life questions focus on your work limitations, household activities you struggle with, and hobbies you’ve had to give up. These help them assess the real impact of your injuries.
Keep your answers brief and factual. Stick to what you’ve told your own doctors. Long explanations give them more opportunities to find something to use against you.
Can You Record an IME or Bring a Witness in Missouri?
Missouri generally allows you to bring an observer to your IME, though the insurance company may object. Your attorney might need to get a court order if they refuse.
Having a witness provides several important benefits:
- Accountability: Keeps the exam professional and thorough
- Verification: Provides testimony if the report contains errors
- Support: Reduces stress during a difficult process
Audio recording is sometimes permitted in Missouri, but you must notify the doctor beforehand. Video recording is rarely allowed. Always check with your attorney before attempting to record anything.
Some insurance companies send their own representatives to observe the exam. This is another reason why having your own witness can be valuable.
Is a Defense Medical Exam Really Independent?
Despite the name, IMEs are rarely independent. Many attorneys call them Defense Medical Exams (DMEs) because that’s more accurate. The insurance company pays for the exam and chooses the doctor.
Some doctors earn substantial income from performing IMEs for insurance companies. They may do hundreds of these exams each year, creating a financial incentive to provide opinions that favor their paying clients.
Warning signs of biased IME doctors include:
- Extremely brief exams: Spending only 10-15 minutes with patients
- Consistently favorable reports: Rarely finding significant injuries
- High volume practice: Performing hundreds of IMEs annually
- Limited treatment experience: Focusing mainly on evaluations, not patient care
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we track which doctors in Missouri have reputations as defense-friendly. This knowledge helps us prepare clients for what to expect and how to challenge biased findings.
What Happens if You Refuse or Do Not Prepare for an IME in Missouri
Refusing a court-ordered IME in Missouri can destroy your case. Judges take these orders seriously and will dismiss lawsuits if you don’t comply without a valid legal reason.
Poor preparation can be almost as damaging as refusal. Common problems include:
- Inconsistent statements: Contradicting what you’ve told other doctors
- Downplayed symptoms: Failing to accurately report your limitations
- Hostile behavior: Being rude or uncooperative during the exam
- Missing appointments: Failing to show up without proper notice
Your attorney can help you reschedule for legitimate reasons like illness or family emergencies. However, repeatedly missing appointments or refusing without cause will hurt your credibility.
Insurance companies use missed appointments to argue that your injuries aren’t serious. They claim that someone who was really hurt would make the exam a priority.
How Does an IME Impact Settlement and How We Fight an Unfair Report?
IME reports directly influence settlement negotiations and can affect your decision about settling versus going to trial. Insurance companies use favorable reports to justify low offers or claim denials. They’ll argue that their “independent” doctor found you weren’t seriously injured.
However, an unfavorable IME report doesn’t end your case, but it does create challenges we must overcome. At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we have extensive experience fighting biased IME reports.
Our strategies for challenging unfair reports include:
- Rebuttal reports: Getting detailed opinions from your treating doctors that contradict the IME findings
- Doctor depositions: Questioning the IME doctor under oath about their findings and financial relationships
- Inconsistency analysis: Highlighting differences between the doctor’s report and your actual medical records
- Expert testimony: Bringing in medical experts to explain why the IME conclusions are wrong
We know which Missouri doctors frequently provide opinions that favor insurance companies. This knowledge helps us anticipate their arguments and prepare effective counter-strategies.
Our experience handling Missouri car accident cases means we’re familiar with common IME tactics. We use this experience to protect our clients and fight for fair compensation.
Injured in Missouri? Get IME Guidance and Legal Help Today
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we understand how stressful facing an IME can be. We’re the only law firm in Missouri that focuses exclusively on auto accident cases, which means we know exactly how to handle these situations.
We help injured Missourians navigate the challenges of car accident claims. We stand up to insurance companies to help our clients obtain the compensation they deserve.
As a family-run practice, we handle each case personally. You’ll never feel like just another number. We prepare you thoroughly for your IME and ensure you understand what to expect.
We’re available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide guidance. Our consultations are always free, and you pay no fees unless we win your case.
Don’t face the insurance company alone. Contact us today to learn how we can protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions About IMEs in Missouri
Do I Have to Attend an IME if the Other Driver’s Insurance Company Asks?
If you’ve filed a lawsuit, the court can order you to attend, and refusing may result in case dismissal. If you haven’t filed suit yet, consult an attorney before agreeing to any insurance company requests.
Can I Record My IME in Missouri?
Missouri generally allows audio recording of IMEs, but you should notify the doctor beforehand and confirm with your attorney first.
Can I Bring a Family Member or Observer to the IME?
Yes, Missouri typically permits bringing an observer, though the insurance company may object and require court intervention.
Who Pays for the IME and My Travel Expenses?
The insurance company requesting the IME pays for the examination and reasonable travel expenses if the exam location is far from your home.
What if I Miss or Need to Reschedule the IME?
Contact your attorney immediately, as missing an IME without valid reason can seriously damage your case or result in dismissal.
When Will the IME Report Be Ready and Can I See It?
IME reports may take several weeks to be finalized, and your attorney can obtain a copy through the legal discovery process.
Can One Bad IME Report Destroy My Missouri Car Accident Claim?
No, an unfavorable IME report can be challenged with stronger evidence from your treating doctors and proper legal strategy.
What Is the Difference Between an IME, DME, and CME?
IME (Independent Medical Examination) and DME (Defense Medical Examination) refer to the same thing, while CME (Compulsory Medical Examination) specifically means a court-ordered exam.
