What Does Maximum Medical Improvement Mean in a Personal Injury Case?
As you discuss your personal injury claim with your attorney, you may hear the term “maximum medical improvement” come up. It’s an important concept since it can have a massive effect on the value of your claim and your ability to seek compensation. It may also dramatically change the timeline of your claim.
Find out how MMI can influence your personal injury claim and why it’s crucial to seek medical care. When you’re ready to move forward with your claim, call Reeves & Mestayer at 228-300-2754.
Understanding Maximum Medical Improvement
MMI is a concept in personal injury cases that plays a role in determining how much a claim is worth. It’s the point when a patient’s condition has improved as much as it ever will. At this point, the patient is stable and future improvement is unlikely, even if they continue to receive medical care.
A patient’s MMI is determined by a care provider. Their medical provider may declare that they have reached maximum medical improvement once their condition has plateaued and further treatments have not yielded any results. One important note: MMI is not necessarily a full recovery. For some patients, a full recovery is unlikely or even impossible.
A variety of factors influence a patient’s MMI. The severity of the injury is an important factor, as is the patient’s health prior to their injury. Their response to treatment and involvement in their treatment plan may also play a role. The variety of medical treatments available can also impact MMI, as some injuries simply do not have many treatment options and therefore have a poor prognosis.
The Significance of MMI in a Personal Injury Claim
Why is MMI so important in personal injury claims? Figuring out medical costs before reaching MMI is difficult since you don’t yet know what additional expenses are coming your way. Once an individual has reached MMI, it’s easier to figure out their exact medical costs and what they may be owed by the at-fault party. This also includes future long-term care needs, since those who will never fully recover may need ongoing care, rehabilitation, and future follow-up treatments.
Reaching MMI also makes it easier to figure out lost wages. Not only can your attorney better calculate your current lost wages, but they may also be able to determine how your future income may be affected. If your ability to work is permanently damaged, this can significantly change the outcome of your claim.
Pain and suffering, another important component of many personal injury claims, is also affected by MMI. If you have a condition that will cause you chronic pain, you should understand what your permanent pain level will be before you determine how much it’s worth.
Evaluating Permanent Impairment and Long-Term Care Needs
In some cases, those with permanent injuries will have ongoing care needs that must be addressed in a settlement or court award. Assessing these prior to reaching MMI is nearly impossible. Upon reaching MMI, a patient may undergo a permanent impairment assessment to figure out what skills are permanently lost, what type of care they will need in the future, and what other services they may need to outsource in order to live independently.
This includes calculating future medical care needs. While a patient may not expect further improvement after reaching MMI, they may still need ongoing treatment to maintain their current mobility and function.
How MMI Can Impact Negotiations and Settlements
Unfortunately, patients who take a long time to reach MMI may find that they must wait a long time to secure a settlement. Prior to that point, the risk of accepting a too-small settlement is simply too great. Reaching MMI gives victims the upper hand when it comes to negotiating a settlement that actually accounts for everything they lost in an accident.
Contact Our Team to Learn More About Your Legal Options
Have you suffered an injury because of someone else’s negligence? It’s time to talk to the Biloxi personal injury attorneys at Reeves & Mestayer. During your free consultation, we’ll learn more about your case and give you our professional recommendations. Set up a time now by calling us at 228-300-2754 or connecting with us online.
