If you are pursuing a personal injury claim or a workers' compensation case, you will likely hear the term maximum medical improvement, or MMI. Understanding what MMI means and why it matters is essential to making informed decisions about your case, particularly when it comes to the timing of your settlement.
What Is Maximum Medical Improvement?
Maximum medical improvement is the point in your recovery where your condition has stabilized and is unlikely to improve significantly with further treatment. It does not necessarily mean that you have fully recovered. Many accident victims reach MMI with permanent symptoms or limitations. Rather, MMI means that your treating physician has determined that your condition is as good as it is going to get given the current state of medicine.
Why MMI Matters for Your Case
MMI is a critical milestone in personal injury and workers' compensation cases for several reasons:
Accurate Case Valuation
Until you reach MMI, it is difficult to accurately determine the full value of your case. Your attorney needs to know the total cost of your medical treatment, whether you will need ongoing medical care, whether you have any permanent impairment or disability, and how your injuries will affect your ability to work in the future. These questions can only be answered definitively once you have reached MMI.
Settlement Timing
Settling your case before you reach MMI is almost always a mistake. If you settle too early, you may discover later that your injuries are more serious than initially thought, that you need additional surgery or treatment, or that you have a permanent disability that will affect your earning capacity for the rest of your life. Once you settle, you cannot go back and ask for more money.
Permanent Impairment Rating
Once you reach MMI, your doctor may assign a permanent impairment rating, which is a percentage that reflects the degree to which your injury has permanently diminished your physical function. This rating is an important factor in determining the value of your case, particularly in workers' compensation claims where permanent partial disability benefits are calculated based on the impairment rating.
The MMI Process
Your treating physician will determine when you have reached MMI based on your medical progress and response to treatment. The doctor will consider whether your symptoms have plateaued, whether additional treatment is likely to produce meaningful improvement, and what permanent limitations or restrictions you will have going forward.
Disputes Over MMI
Insurance companies sometimes push to have you declared at MMI prematurely so they can cut off medical benefits and pressure you into settling. If you disagree with an MMI determination, you have the right to seek a second opinion from another physician. Your attorney can help you navigate disputes over MMI and ensure that the determination is based on your actual medical condition rather than the insurance company's desire to close your claim.
Patience Is Key
We understand that when you are dealing with an injury, lost wages, and mounting bills, the pressure to settle quickly can be intense. But patience is one of the most important virtues in personal injury cases. By waiting until you reach MMI, you give your attorney the information needed to demand the full value of your claim.
Contact Dr. Ted Injury Law at (800) 555-HURT to discuss the timing and strategy for your personal injury case.