There are often those situations when people get injured as a result of the negligence or mistakes of other people or entities. The victims often end up using a lot of money in getting the medical attention that they need to be back on their feet again. Most victims miss out on their wages. Fortunately, the law gives the victims the right to seek compensation for the money they use for their medical bills. Other than the money they used to get medical attention, the victims have the right to claim for any wages that they might have lost as a result of the injuries. When seeking for compensation, most victims often prefer hiring the services of a personal injury lawyer.
There are very many ways that one can benefit from hiring the services of a personal injury lawyer. One of the main benefits is the fact that the defendants often come prepared as well. The case can be very difficult if one is dealing with a huge company or an insurance company that is capable of hiring the best personal injury lawyers that we have around. It is such circumstances that a defense medical exam might be needed. The law gives the defendant of a personal injury case the right to get the plaintiff examines to ascertain the severity of their injury. This is what defense medical exam is all about. It gives both the defendant and the plaintiff an equal chance to state their case. There are a few things that one should know about the defense medical exam. The following are a few examples.
First of all, one needs to note that defense medical exams are not independent. These exams are designed to help the defendant to prove that the injuries of the plaintiff are not as severe as they purport for them to be. The doctor who performs the exam is often expected to testify on behalf of the defendant. The doctor who performs the defense medical exam is often hired by the defense team. For this reason, the plaintiff needs to be very careful when undergoing these examinations. It is essential to know that one does not have to fill out any papers or answer any questions while at the examination.
The main purpose of the defense medical exam is to give the defendant the opportunity to study the injuries of the plaintiff. There are a number of guidelines that are supposed to be followed. One of them is that it should not be unduly long. These exams are also not supposed to demonstrate any level of partiality on the part of the examining physician. It should not be intrusive. Also, these examinations are supposed to take place at a spot that is not more than 75 miles from there the plaintiff stays.
In conclusion, the defense team uses these exams to minimize as much as possible the amount of money that they will finally have to pay as compensation. As for the plaintiff, it is essential for one to be very keen during the whole process.