Surviving an IME: Independent Medical Exam Guide for PA Workers

What is an IME?

An "Independent Medical Examination" is an exam by a doctor chosen by the insurance company. Despite the name, these exams are NOT independent - the doctor is paid by the insurance company and often has a history of finding workers "recovered" and ready to return to work.

Your Rights at an IME

• You MUST attend if properly scheduled, or your benefits can be suspended
• You can have someone accompany you (spouse, friend, or representative)
• The exam should be limited to your work injury
• You can request a copy of the report

How to Prepare

• Review your medical records before the exam
• Be honest about your symptoms - don't exaggerate or minimize
• Describe your worst days, not your best days
• Don't let the doctor rush you
• Take notes immediately after about what happened

What IME Doctors Look For

IME doctors often try to catch inconsistencies. They may:

• Watch how you walk from the parking lot
• Observe how you sit and move in the waiting room
• Ask questions designed to minimize your injuries
• Perform tests specifically to challenge your symptoms

How Your Two Claims Work in Pennsylvania

If you were hurt in a surviving an ime: independent medical exam guide for pa workers while working, Pennsylvania law often gives you two separate paths to recovery at the same time, and using both is usually the only way to be fully compensated.

Workers' compensation comes from your employer's insurance and is no-fault, so it applies even if the crash was partly your fault. It pays 100% of reasonable and necessary medical treatment and roughly two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you cannot work. It does not pay for pain and suffering or the final third of your wages.

A third-party personal injury claim applies when someone other than your employer caused the crash, such as another motorist. That claim recovers what workers' comp leaves on the table, including full wage loss and pain and suffering. Many injured workers never learn they had this second claim until it is too late.

How we work: Attorney Michael Cardamone is a Certified Workers' Compensation Specialist who handles your workers' comp claim directly, and we coordinate with our heavyweight Personal Injury colleagues on any third-party case so the two work together to maximize your total recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get workers' comp and also sue the at-fault driver after a surviving an ime: independent medical exam guide for pa workers?

Yes. If you were working when the crash happened and someone else was at fault, Pennsylvania law generally lets you collect workers' compensation through your employer and pursue a separate third-party claim against the at-fault party. Together they recover far more than workers' comp alone.

Does workers' comp cover pain and suffering?

No. Pennsylvania workers' compensation only covers medical bills and roughly two-thirds of lost wages. Pain and suffering can only be recovered through a third-party personal injury claim against the party who caused the crash.

How much does it cost to hire a work injury lawyer?

Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee, so there is no fee unless we win your case, and your consultation is always free. Call (215) 206-9068.