MMI is a medical and legal term that means your condition has gotten better and is unlikely to get better with more treatment. Once MMI is determined, the claim processes a big change. Your condition has stabilized, and the stage at which your ability begins to consider the full potential of your injuries is the MMI stage.
Did you know that in many states, it takes about 363 days on average for permanent partial disability cases to get to MMI?
Learning what Maximum Medical Improvement is can be helpful to your claim. If you reach MMI, it doesn’t mean you are completely healed. Simply put, once you reach MMI, the doctor believes your injury has healed as much as it’s going to, either a full recovery or a permanent disability.
But how do doctors decide that your condition has reached MMI, and what should you do after that? These answers go a great way in determining how the recovery process will take place and the financial outcome.
Understanding Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)
A Maximum Medical Improvement (sometimes shortened to MMI) is a very important landmark in the path toward getting better. This does not mean that you are cured; it only means that your medical team now must evaluate what the person’s long-term needs will be.
In the event that you were hurt on the job, the workers’ compensation program at your company is likely to pay you. In a workers’ compensation claim, once MMI is reached, your doctor may give you a permanent disability rating, which will change how much your benefits are worth going forward, says a personal injury lawyer in Gastonia.
Understanding the concept of MMI will enable your emotions to be prepared for a realistic expectation about your recovery. You can continue healing with your healthcare providers’ guidance.
The Importance of MMI in Injury Claims
Reaching MMI is an important stage in injury claims because it signifies that your medical condition has stabilized and you may now pursue the recovery process. To be clear, this stage is extremely important for you to know because it immediately impacts your claim’s value.
Once an injured party reaches MMI, they can then assess how much more their injuries are going to affect their life and for how long. This level of clarity becomes extremely helpful in dealing with insurance companies and very much strengthens the case.
You are no longer left in limbo; you can now think of healing and planning for your future. This direction will enable you to belong to a support network and empower you to support yourself.
How MMI Is Assessed by Medical Professionals
Once MMI has been met, your case will be reviewed by physicians to determine if any further improvement in your condition is possible. A physical examination will be performed and your medical history will be reviewed with focus placed on your symptoms, mobility, and functionality. Such an evaluation can consist of a battery of diagnostic tests, such as images, testing, and assessment of physical functions.
Your health team will evaluate your current status in comparison with the condition you had before your injury. They will try to determine any lingering effect(s) along with the patient’s responsiveness to treatment(s). This covered sort of approach ensures that you are not alone, and your opinion matters.
Knowing what is involved in determining the MMI can make you feel more connected and informed, and hopefully, it will help you walk through your recovery with more confidence and clarity.
The Impact of MMI on Compensation Amounts
If you have achieved maximum medical improvement (MMI), this is an important factor used in determining the monetary value of a claim for an injury. Knowing whether you have reached MMI, along with other evidence, clarifies the seriousness of your injuries and how much they hinder your daily activities. Often, the insurance company bases its negotiations on an estimate of the amount it believes it should pay out, which is determined by the assessment of maximum medical improvement (MMI). Having reached MMI usually means that the best degree of treatment has been provided and that the condition has stabilized, which is a far clearer parameter for negotiation.
Keep in mind that your compensation should reimburse you for lost wages, pain, and suffering, as well as for all medical expenses. You have to stand up for yourself now. You must know your MMI so that you can interact confidently with the insurers and make sure that the compensation you receive is what you honestly deserve.
Steps to Take After Reaching MMI
Take the proper steps that you need to ensure that the injury claim proceeds smoothly once the MMI is reached.
- Gather your medical records and any documentation regarding your treatment. The information can support your claim and offer an accurate profile of how you proceeded through the recovery process.
- Meet with your lawyer to discuss what will be the best way forward regarding your case. Calculating the amount you can receive in damages early on may help them to evaluate you based upon your present condition, together with any future needs for your situation.
- It is necessary to keep afterward any new symptoms or even treatments that may emerge.
Remaining organized and informed prepares an individual well once in the closing phase of a claim and ensures you get compensated accordingly for what you bargained for.
