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Glossary

Impairment rating

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.

Last reviewed By the Editorial team 2 min read

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 point at which doctors expect no further recovery. Claims are often valued once you reach it. Glossary. The insurer may ask for its own Independent medical exam. An exam by a doctor chosen by the insurer or the defense. Despite the name, that doctor is not your doctor. Glossary, and two doctors can reach different ratings for the same injury. Our guides to broken bones and back and neck injuries explain how lasting injuries are documented.

Example#

Questions people ask

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

  1. American Medical Association, AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment: an overview — what the Guides are and how widely they are used
  2. Texas Legislature, Labor Code § 401.011(24) — as of October 2026

Last reviewed October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team. Found an error? Tell us.

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