What Is an Independent Medical Examination (IME)?
You go through weeks of treatment. Doctor visits. Therapy. Recovery. But then the insurance company says they want “another look,” from someone you’ve never met. That’s an IME. It stands for Independent Medical Examination, though for most injured clients in Georgia, there’s nothing neutral about it. These exams are often arranged and paid for by the defense. The doctor does not treat. They write reports. And those reports are used to challenge your case.
Under Georgia law, specifically OCGA § 9-11-35, a defendant can ask the court to order an IME if your medical condition is in dispute. The defense presents it as routine. But make no mistake, it’s a tactic. The insurer wants a medical opinion that helps their side, especially when your treating physician’s records are strong. At Prine Law Group, clients are told early: the IME is not a trap if you understand it and prepare for it.
When and Why IMEs Are Requested
IME requests don’t come out of nowhere. They tend to arrive when something about your case makes the insurer uneasy. Maybe your treatment has lasted longer than they expected. Maybe your injuries can’t be seen on an x-ray. Maybe your doctor recommends surgery or future care. Whatever the reason, they want a second opinion, on their terms.
It’s also about leverage. If your case has real value, if settlement talks are moving toward a number the defense doesn’t like, they use the IME to reframe the narrative. Was the pain really that bad? Was it caused by this accident, or something from before? Do you actually need more treatment, or are you just not following up? These are the questions they hope their examiner will raise, not always with fairness, but with plausible doubt.
Risks and Pitfalls During an IME
The exam itself is usually short. Sometimes 15 minutes. Rarely longer than 30. But those minutes are loaded with risk. Everything you say, every movement you make, might be written down and sent to the insurer’s legal team. If you’re stiff getting out of the car, but bend easily during the exam, it will be noted. If you tell the doctor you’ve “been feeling better,” that line might show up in the report without any mention of context or pain levels.
The IME doctor doesn’t owe you a duty of care. They’re not treating you. Their job is to form an opinion based on one meeting and your medical file. Some are fair. Others have built entire careers writing reports for the defense. At Prine Law Group, we tell our clients what to expect, not to scare them, but so they don’t walk into the exam thinking it’s just another visit.
How to Prepare for Your IME in Georgia
Start by reviewing your own records. Go over what you’ve told your doctor. Think through what symptoms you’ve reported and what limitations you still have. You don’t need to memorize details, but you do need to be consistent. If your file says you’ve been having numbness in your right hand for four months, don’t say it started two weeks ago. That kind of inconsistency, however innocent, can damage credibility.
Arrive early. Dress plainly. Be polite, but don’t overshare. Answer what’s asked. Don’t try to convince the doctor. Just describe your condition clearly and calmly. If something hurts, say so. If you can’t perform a movement, explain why. You’re not being tested. You’re being observed.
Sometimes it helps to bring someone with you. Georgia allows observers in most IMEs as long as the defense is notified in advance. Even if you attend alone, take notes afterward. Write down what you were asked, how the exam was conducted, and anything unusual. These records can be valuable later if the IME report is biased or misleading.
Disputing Unfavorable IME Results
Not all IME reports are negative. But when they are, they’re rarely subtle. The examiner might claim your injury is unrelated to the incident. Or that your treatment isn’t necessary. Or that your complaints don’t match the findings. If you’re not ready for that, it can feel like the floor drops out from under your case.
That’s where legal strategy becomes essential. Prine Law Group doesn’t treat IMEs as final verdicts. They analyze the report line by line, checking for inconsistencies with imaging, therapy notes, and progress records. If the report contradicts your treating physician, we ask why, and we challenge it. In court, IME doctors are subject to cross-examination. At mediation, their conclusions can be discredited with better, longer-standing evidence.
We also work with treating providers to issue counter-statements when necessary. Jurors in Georgia generally give more weight to the doctor who saw you ten times than the one who saw you once. But only if your legal team makes that difference clear.
An IME isn’t a trap. It’s a move in the process. One that can be handled, mitigated, and, if needed, turned into an advantage. But you need the right preparation. The right documentation. And the right representation.
If you’re facing an Independent Medical Examination as part of your personal injury claim, Prine Law Group is here to help. Our team supports clients across Macon, Milledgeville, Bibb County, and throughout Georgia with calm, steady guidance. If you’re looking for a personal injury attorney Macon claimants rely on for strategic preparation and responsive advocacy, visit Prine Law Group or call (478) 257-6333. You can also speak with a personal injury lawyer Macon insurers respect for courtroom-ready clarity at our office, located at 740 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201.
