Though I only represent injured workers, I'm a former insurance company attorney. IME's are set up by work comp insurance adjusters with the sole purpose to deny or limit your Minnesota workers compensation benefits. Unfortunately Minnesota law requires that you attend your independent medical examination if it is within 150 miles of your home. The insurance company must pay for your travel to and from the examination. When you arrive at the examination do NOT fill out any paperwork other than provide your identification. Be polite and respectful even though you know this doctor is likely to misrepresent the extent of your injuries and perhaps even outright lie. If you have a well experienced workers compensation attorney he/she will be familiar with the doctor and know how to attack the doctor's credibility. We may have even deposed the doctor previously or have past workers compensation decisions where the IME doctor was found not credible.
Minnesota workers compensation is a complex area of law that general practitioners, personal injury attorneys and young lawyers with pretty websites occasionally think they can handle. The truth is that it takes many years to become familiar with the laws, opposing attorneys, judges and independent medical examiners. At Atkinson Law Office we specifically limit our practice to workers compensation and have done so for over 25 years. We offer free consultations and you will never pay a fee unless we obtain benefits for you. Visit our website at www.mndisabiilty.com or call us from across the state of Minnesota at 651-333-3636
