San Diego Accident Attorney Talks About the Role of the Independent Medical Examiner

Who is the independent medical examiner? What is an independent medical examination (IME)?

The answer is that he is the primary witness against most personal injury victims and the IME is a time for the witness to meet, interrogate, and examine the victim in person–giving him more credibility at trial. San Diego injury lawyer answers this question for you and tells of the role of the independent medical examiner in litigation in this important article.

What is the “Independent Medical Examiner” and what is his role in your California injury accident case? He is the MAIN witness against you!

In most personal injury cases, the primary witness and weapon against the injury accident victim is the independent medical examiner. The word “independent” is misleading. It simply means this person, who is a doctor, is independent of the treating doctors for the victim. However, this person is employed and paid for by the insurance company of the wrongdoer whose negligence and carelessness caused the accident in the first place.

The independent medical examiner often examines the injured person at an independent medical examination (IME). The IME seems like a normal, everyday doctor’s examination but it is really a cross between a deposition and a physical and mental interrogation in which the independent medical examiner documents the record and tries to obtain as many “facts” as possible so that they can conclude that the injury accident victim is either not injured or not as injured as they claim.

Insurance companies hire independent medical examiners over and over again because they know what this witness will say about certain cases and they know that these witnesses will play ball and support the insurance company’s position at trial. It is not because the witness is any better of a doctor than the treating doctor. It is simply that the insurance company is hiring a doctor who will provide a predictable opinion.

Never attend an IME without an attorney or a medical witness such as a registered nurse (RN) who can observe and testify against the independent medical examiner at trial if the examiner attempts to perform an improper medical examination.…

Client Testimonial: San Diego Slip and Fall Client, Rosemary M. of Spring Valley, California

Here is what our client, Rosemary M. of Spring Valley, California, has to say about how our office helped her.

We represented her in a San Diego slip and fall accident and recently obtained a very good settlement for her.

Legally We Can’t Say We Are The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in San Diego.

We’ve designed this site, our free reports and our free book with San Diego accident victims in mind. We want you to have the information you need to make an educated decision about your potential case. Too often, attorneys offer a free consultation and little else, leaving accident victims with many unanswered questions such as:

• “Do I even need a lawyer?”
• “How much time do I have to file a claim after I’ve had an accident?”
• “How much is my San Diego accident case worth?”
• “How do I find the right attorney for my case?”

We have the answers to these and many other questions available on this site and through our free information, saving you countless hours of research time and helping you understand more about personal injury law, the claims process and most importantly — your options.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured because of another person’s recklessness or negligence, you can feel like events are out of your control. Dealing with medical bills, insurance companies, surgeries, pain, and uncertainty can be overwhelming. You may have to go to court to get the compensation you deserve. You may need to hire an attorney. In hard times you also need a friend.

If you’ve found yourself in these types of situations… 

I was crossing an intersection in Chula Vista, CA. I wore bright safety clothing and had reflectors on my bike, but the car plowed right in to me …

I knew my Carlsbad, CA landlord was cheap, but I didn’t know the stairs were in such bad shape. My little girl has been in the hospital since she fell …

My son was attacked by a dog in El Cajon. Now he is in an East County hospital and needs reconstructive surgery to correct the damage to his face…

I was rear-ended on I-5 near SR 94 in San Diego, CA. I’m injured, my car is totaled, and the insurance claims adjusters are acting like it’s my fault. I think I need a lawyer…

…then you owe it to yourself to consider our Law Firm.

With offices near the trolley line in Downtown San Diego and in Carlsbad for our North San Diego County clients, We handle a range of practice areas including:

• Auto, Motorcycle, and Truck Accidents
• Slip and Fall Accidents/Premises Liability Claims
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents
• Dog Bites

Our team of San Diego injury lawyers will put you at ease. They will explain the legal process to you and help you find the medical attention you need. You will be fully involved in the decision-making process so you can make educated choices about your case. With our support, you will make the journey from fear and uncertainty to knowledge and closure.

We want the San Diego community to be informed. We want every San Diego injury accident victim to be armed with the information they need to prevail against insurance companies who only care about their profits. Even if you choose not to hire a lawyer, feel free to follow our three regular accident and injury blogs, San Diego Injury Lawyer blog, or the San Diego Car Accident Lawyer blog and download our free reports packed with helpful information for injury accident victims.

We use the latest technology, including paperless record keeping and trial software. Our office is one of the most technologically advanced in San Diego County. That means our attorneys can access every important document in a case immediately and communicate essential information to judges and juries quickly, easily, and to the fullest effect.

If you are unable to come to one of our offices, we can make arrangements to come to you.

If you or someone you love was severely injured in San Diego County, let us help.…