# Impairment rating

> An impairment rating is a doctor's percentage for the lasting loss of function an injury leaves. See how it is used, and its limits, in a crash claim.

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/impairment-rating/  
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team  
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

## Quick answer

An impairment rating is a doctor's measure, usually a percentage, of the lasting loss of function an injury left once recovery has leveled off. It describes the body, not the value of a claim.

## In a car accident claim

Ratings come mainly from workers' compensation systems. Texas workers' compensation law, for example, defines an impairment rating as the percentage of permanent impairment of the whole body resulting from a work injury. Many doctors use the American Medical Association's *Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment*, and the AMA says more than 40 states rely on them.

In a car accident claim there is usually no formula that turns a rating into money. A rating is evidence that an injury is lasting, next to medical records, work limits and testimony about daily life. It is usually given once you reach maximum medical improvement. The insurer may ask for its own independent medical exam, and two doctors can reach different ratings for the same injury. Our guides to [broken bones](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/injuries/broken-bones/) and [back and neck injuries](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/injuries/back-and-neck-injuries/) explain how lasting injuries are documented.

## Example

> **Example:** After a wrist fracture heals, a hand surgeon finds lasting loss of grip strength and motion and gives a rating. The rating goes into the claim as evidence of a permanent injury. The insurer's doctor later gives a lower rating, and the difference becomes part of the negotiation.

## Related terms

- [Maximum medical improvement](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/maximum-medical-improvement/)
- [Loss of earning capacity](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/loss-of-earning-capacity/)
- [Workers' compensation](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/workers-compensation/)

## FAQ

### Does a higher impairment rating mean a bigger settlement?

Not automatically. In a car accident claim the rating is one piece of evidence about a lasting injury. How the injury affects your work, daily life and future care matters too, and the insurer may dispute the rating.

### Who gives an impairment rating?

A doctor who examines you after your recovery has leveled off, often a specialist or a doctor trained to rate with the AMA Guides. The other side may hire its own doctor to give a second rating.

## Sources

- [American Medical Association, AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment: an overview](https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/ama-guides/ama-guides-evaluation-permanent-impairment-overview) — what the Guides are and how widely they are used
- [Texas Legislature, Labor Code § 401.011(24)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LA/htm/LA.401.htm), checked October 29, 2026