When you've been injured in an accident, you work hard with doctors and therapists to recover and get back to normal life. But at some point, your medical team will determine that your condition has stabilized and further improvement is unlikely. This is known as reaching "maximum medical improvement" or MMI. For many accident victims, MMI means the end of active medical treatment and the beginning of managing a long-term condition. But for those pursuing an injury claim, MMI has additional legal and financial implications that are important to understand. Talk with a Texas Car Accident Lawyer to get started if you feel you have a case.
Defining Maximum Medical Improvement
Maximum medical improvement (MMI) refers to a point in time when a person’s medical condition has stabilized and is unlikely to improve any further with additional medical treatment. For personal injury claims, MMI means the injuries from an accident have healed as much as they are expected to. One thing you may want to discuss is how your neck injuries from the car accident could get worse over time.
Once MMI is reached, no major changes in your condition are anticipated and your doctor can properly assess the severity and permanence of your injuries. At this stage, your doctor will evaluate how your injuries impact your ability to work and function. This medical assessment helps determine a settlement amount that accounts for any disability or loss of earning capacity related to your injuries.
Reaching MMI does not necessarily mean you have fully recovered or that your pain and symptoms have resolved completely. It means your medical team expects your condition to remain largely the same going forward. Ongoing physical therapy, medication, or other treatment may still be needed to manage your injuries and improve your quality of life.
The timeframe to achieve MMI varies significantly based on factors like the nature and severity of your injuries. It can take weeks for minor soft tissue damage to stabilize but years for severe breaks, fractures, or injuries requiring multiple surgeries. Your doctor will monitor your progress to determine when your condition has plateaued and additional gains from treatment are unlikely.
Once MMI is declared, settlement negotiations with the insurance company can begin in earnest. Of course, you want to make sure any settlement fully compensates you for medical expenses as well as other damages like lost work and pain and suffering. An experienced personal injury attorney can help ensure you receive fair compensation for your permanent injuries.
How MMI Is Determined for Personal Injury Claims
To determine if you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) for your personal injury claim, your doctor must evaluate whether your condition has stabilized and is unlikely to improve further with additional medical treatment.
How MMI Is Determined
MMI does not necessarily mean your injury has fully healed or that you have regained full function. Rather, it means your medical condition has plateaued and is unlikely to improve substantially with continued active treatment. Your doctor will consider several factors to determine if you have achieved MMI:
- The nature and severity of your injuries. More serious injuries such as face injuries from a car accident typically take longer to reach MMI.
- The type of treatment you have received and how you have responded. If your improvement has slowed or stopped despite active treatment, MMI may have been attained.
- Whether additional standard treatment options are available and medically necessary. If no further treatment is recommended or options have been exhausted, MMI has likely been reached.
- Your level of pain and disability. While some level of permanent impairment or disability may remain, if your pain has decreased and functionality increased to a stable baseline, MMI may be declared.
Reaching MMI is an important milestone for your personal injury claim, as it signals the conclusion of active medical care and the full extent of your injuries and treatment costs are now known. Your doctor will provide records and reports indicating MMI has been attained. At this point, your claim can proceed to settlement negotiations or litigation to recover damages for your injuries and losses.
What Happens After Reaching Maximum Medical Improvement
Once you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), it means your doctors have determined your injury has healed as much as it is expected to. At this point, additional medical treatment is unlikely to substantially improve your condition.
Settlement Discussions Can Begin
After MMI is declared, settlement discussions for your personal injury claim can start in earnest. Your attorney will review medical records and bills to determine the full extent of your injuries and calculate the potential value of your claim. The at-fault party’s insurance company may make an initial settlement offer around this time.
Additional Medical Care
While MMI means your doctors expect little further improvement, you may still require follow-up care, physical therapy, medications, or other treatment to manage your symptoms. Any leg injuries from the car accident may require more significant follow up care and rehabilitation. When you have internal issues such as stomach pain, this care may be needed immidiately. Your attorneys will account for these future medical costs in settlement negotiations. Make sure you disclose any ongoing care you need to your legal team.
Impairment Rating
Once MMI is reached, your doctor can provide an impairment rating if your injuries caused any permanent impairment or disability. This rating helps determine the severity of permanent damage and can significantly impact the value of your personal injury claim. An impairment of a few percentage points versus more substantial impairment of 10 percent or higher can mean a big difference in settlement amounts.
Demand Letter
With MMI determined and an impairment rating in place if applicable, your attorney can draft a demand letter with a proposed settlement amount for your claim. This letter lays out the details of your injuries, treatment, costs, and losses resulting from the accident along with the evidence that supports your demand amount. The letter is sent to the at-fault party’s insurance provider to prompt further settlement discussions. Your lawyer will help you understand what a good offer may be for a car accident in Texas.
Reaching MMI and the subsequent steps in the claims process can be complicated. Make sure you fully understand each part of the process and ask your attorney any questions you may have about what to expect after maximum medical improvement.
Does MMI Mean My Treatment Is Over?
Reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI) does not necessarily mean an end to all medical treatment for your injuries. MMI simply means your doctors believe your condition has stabilized and is unlikely to improve further with additional treatment or time. However, you may still require ongoing care to manage your symptoms and prevent your condition from worsening.
At MMI, your doctors can better assess the severity and permanence of your injuries. They will evaluate which treatments have been effective at improving your function and mobility, as well as determine if any treatments should be continued or modified going forward. Doctors may recommend physical therapy, medication, assistive devices, lifestyle changes, or other options so you can learn to cope with your limitations and recover as much independence as possible.
While major surgeries or other invasive procedures are unlikely after you reach MMI, your doctors may propose minor treatments to provide relief from discomfort. They can also suggest ways for you to avoid aggravating your injuries and prevent secondary health issues. Reaching MMI does not prevent you from seeking a second opinion from another doctor regarding treatment options or alternative therapies that could potentially improve your condition.
The settlement of your personal injury claim will depend greatly on whether your injuries have reached MMI. Once MMI is declared, the insurance adjuster can better evaluate the full impact of your injuries and determine a fair settlement amount. However, declaring MMI does not mean you must accept the first settlement offer or that you cannot negotiate for a higher amount. You have the right to contest a low settlement and provide evidence demonstrating why additional compensation is warranted.
While MMI signifies the end of major medical improvement, it does not mean an end to medical care or to seeking fair compensation. By working closely with your doctors and legal team, you can develop the best strategy for managing the long-term effects of your injuries and obtain the maximum settlement for your claim.
How MMI Affects the Value of My Injury Claim
Once you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), it means your medical condition has stabilized and is unlikely to improve further with additional medical treatment. At this point, the value of your personal injury claim can be properly evaluated.
How MMI Is Determined
MMI is determined by your treating physicians. They will evaluate factors like:
- Your current symptoms and physical abilities
- Results of recent medical tests and exams
- Your ability to perform activities of daily living
- Whether your condition has plateaued or stabilized
If your doctors believe your injury or illness has stabilized and additional medical care will not significantly improve your condition, you have likely reached MMI. Your doctors will note this determination in your medical records.
How MMI Affects Your Claim's Value
Reaching MMI allows the insurance company to evaluate the full impact of your injuries. The value of your claim depends on factors like:
- The severity and permanence of your injuries
- Prognosis for recovery and future medical needs
- Costs of past and future medical care
- Lost wages from missed work
- Pain and suffering
Once MMI is determined, settlement negotiations can begin in earnest. The insurance company now has a clear picture of the scope of your claim and damages, allowing them to make a fair settlement offer.
While reaching MMI may feel discouraging, it is an important step towards resolving your claim and being properly compensated. Be sure to communicate regularly with your doctors and lawyers to ensure the full details of your condition post-MMI are documented to support the maximum settlement for your injuries. Staying actively involved in the legal process will help achieve the best possible outcome for your claim.
Fletcher Law Texas Car Accident Lawyers Are Here To Help
The team at Fletcher Law has years of experience helping Texans recover fair compensation after car accidents and injuries. Our car accident attorneys understand how stressful and difficult this time can be. We are here to guide you through the legal process so you can focus on your recovery.
Maximum Medical Improvement
After an accident, your doctors will provide treatment until your condition stabilizes and is unlikely to improve further with additional medical care. This point is known as “maximum medical improvement” or MMI. At MMI, your doctors can determine whether you have any permanent disabilities or limitations, and can provide an impairment rating which helps determine the value of your claim.
Our attorneys will review your medical records and bills to understand the full extent of your injuries and calculate how much compensation you deserve. We handle negotiations with insurance companies to recover damages for:
- Medical expenses (hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, medications, etc.)
- Lost wages from time off work
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disabilities or disfigurement
Demand Letters and Litigation
If MMI has been reached and you are still not offered a fair settlement, we will send a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurance provider stating we will pursue litigation if an acceptable offer is not made. Our experienced trial lawyers are fully prepared to file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf to get you the maximum compensation allowed under Texas law.
Fletcher Law Texas Car Accident Lawyers Are Here To Help
The team at Fletcher Law understands what you’re going through and will fight to get you fair compensation so you can move on from this difficult time. Call us today for a free case review and to discuss how we can help. We work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Conclusion
You have now gained a solid understanding of the importance of maximum medical improvement in determining the value of your personal injury claim. Once you have reached maximum medical improvement, your doctor will determine whether you have any permanent impairments or disabilities as a result of your accident. This medical assessment, combined with other factors like your lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical bills, will help determine a fair settlement amount for your claim. While the process of recovering from an injury and pursuing an insurance claim can be difficult and time-consuming, staying focused on your health and working closely with your doctors and legal team will help ensure you receive fair compensation for your losses. With patience and persistence, justice will be served.