Glossary
Independent medical exam (IME)
An exam by a doctor chosen by the insurer or the defense. Despite the name, that doctor is not your doctor.
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.
Quick answer
An independent medical exam, or IME, is an exam by a doctor chosen by the insurer or the other side in a lawsuit. Despite the name, that doctor is not your doctor. They do not treat you, and their report goes to the side that hired them.
In a car accident claim#
IMEs come up in two main ways. Your own insurer may require one under your policy or state law before paying benefits such as PIP. In Florida, for example, a person covered by PIP must, at the insurer's request, submit to a mental or physical examination by a physician when their condition is material to a PIP claim. Refusing has consequences there: if the person unreasonably refuses or fails to appear, the PIP insurer is no longer liable for later PIP benefits. In a lawsuit, the defense can ask the court to order one. In federal court, a court may order a party whose mental or physical condition is in controversy to be examined, on motion for good cause, and the order must state the time, place, manner, conditions, and scope of the examination, and who will perform it. Afterward, you can ask for a copy of the examiner's written report. State courts have similar rules.
The IME report often disputes how serious an injury is, how long it should last or whether the crash caused it. Your own doctors' records and opinions are the usual answer, and the IME doctor may be questioned at a Deposition. Sworn testimony given out of court, in front of a court reporter, during discovery. Glossary. An IME doctor may also give an 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. Glossary that differs from your doctor's. Our guides to whiplash and back and neck injuries explain how these disputes play out.
Example#
Related terms#
Questions people ask
Is an independent medical exam really independent?
Not in the usual sense. The doctor is chosen and paid by the insurer or the defense, and the report goes to them. Court orders and policies may set rules on how the exam is done.
Can I bring someone to an independent medical exam?
It depends on the state, the court's order or the policy. Some allow an observer or a recording and others do not. A lawyer in your state can say what applies.
Sources
- Cornell LII, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 35 — court-ordered physical and mental examinations
- Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 627.736 — examinations for PIP claims
Last reviewed October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team. Found an error? Tell us.
Keep reading
- GlossaryGlossaryShort, plain-English definitions of the legal and insurance terms that come up after a crash, each with an example, related terms and the sources behind it.
- The claim processDepositionsA deposition is sworn testimony taken before trial, with a court reporter recording every word. Here is who attends, how long it can last, what is asked and…
- Injury typesWhiplashWhiplash is a soft-tissue injury of the neck, most often from rear-end crashes. How it is documented, and why insurers look hard at these claims.
- Injury typesBack and neck injuriesHerniated discs, sprains and spine fractures from crashes; what X-rays and MRIs can show; how claims handle age-related wear and old injuries; and independent…
- GlossaryBad faithAn insurer's unreasonable refusal or delay in paying a valid claim. Many states allow extra penalties for it.
- GlossaryInterrogatoriesWritten questions that one side in a lawsuit sends to the other side, which must be answered in writing and under oath.