If you’ve been injured in an accident or on the job, there will come a point in your recovery where your doctor determines that your condition has stabilized and isn’t expected to get significantly better with continued treatment. That point is called maximum medical improvement, or MMI. This means your medical team believes you’ve recovered as much as you’re going to and that any remaining impairment is likely permanent.
MMI is one of the most important milestones in both personal injury and workers’ compensation cases, affecting everything from your benefits to how much your claim is ultimately worth. Learning about how it works in Kentucky and Tennessee can help you make smarter decisions about your case. Read on for the details.
How MMI Works in Workers’ Compensation Cases
In both Kentucky and Tennessee, temporary total disability (TTD) benefits are designed to replace a portion of your wages while you’re recovering from a work injury. Those benefits continue until one of two things happens: either you’re cleared to return to work or you reach MMI.
Once your doctor places you at MMI, the TTD payments stop. From there, the focus shifts from recovery to evaluating the extent of any permanent damage. This is done through a permanent impairment rating, which is a numerical assessment of how much lasting function or ability you’ve lost because of the injury.
The impairment rating directly affects what benefits you’re entitled to going forward:
- In Kentucky, the rating is assigned using the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th Edition. The result determines whether you qualify for permanent partial disability (PPD) or permanent total disability (PTD) benefits.
- In Tennessee, the 6th Edition of the AMA Guides is used. Your impairment rating factors into the calculation of your permanent disability benefits, which are based on a formula that also accounts for factors such as your age and ability to return to work.
Reaching MMI does not mean your medical treatment is over. You may still need ongoing care to manage pain as well as to prevent your condition from worsening. In many workers’ comp cases, continued medical benefits remain available even after the TTD payments have ended.
What Role Does MMI Play in Personal Injury Cases?
MMI can also substantially influence personal injury cases, even though it operates differently outside the workers’ comp context. In a personal injury case, the value of your claim depends largely on the full extent of your injuries and what your future medical needs will look like. Until you’ve reached MMI, those numbers are still in motion.
This is why most personal injury attorneys recommend waiting until you’ve reached MMI before accepting a settlement. If you settle too early, you may not know the true cost of your medical treatment going forward, and once a settlement is signed, you can’t go back and ask for more.
Once you reach MMI, your lawyer can work with your medical team to calculate the total cost of your treatment and any lasting limitations that affect your ability to work and enjoy your life. That gives you a much clearer picture of what your case is actually worth.
Can I Disagree with an MMI Determination?
Yes. If you believe your doctor’s MMI determination is premature or inaccurate, you have the right to challenge it. This happens more often than people realize, such as in workers’ compensation cases where the insurer’s preferred physician may have an incentive to declare MMI sooner rather than later.
You can request an independent medical evaluation (IME) from a doctor of your own choosing. If that doctor disagrees with the original MMI assessment, their findings can be used to support your position. In both Kentucky and Tennessee, disputes over MMI can be brought before the workers’ compensation board for resolution.
Having an attorney involved at this stage is important because the outcome of the MMI determination can affect your benefits for years to come. A premature MMI ruling could cut off your TTD payments too early and result in a lower impairment rating than what you actually deserve.
How Long Does It Take to Reach MMI?
There’s no set timeline. Some injuries stabilize within a few months, while others take a year or longer to reach the point where a doctor can make a reliable MMI assessment. Spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the conditions that typically take the longest to plateau.
The key is not to rush the process. While it can be frustrating to wait, settling your case or accepting a permanent disability rating before your condition has truly stabilized can cost you significant compensation in the long run.
Schedule a Free Consultation with an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney at Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC
MMI is a turning point that can shape the rest of your case. Regardless of whether you’re dealing with a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit, having a lawyer in your corner who knows how MMI works in your state can help protect your rights and make sure you don’t leave money on the table.
For more information, call Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC at (859) 765-6028 to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Lexington or Bowling Green, please contact our personal injury lawyers at Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC for a free case evaluation.
Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC – Lexington, KY Office
325 W Main St #210, Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 550-2900
Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC -Bowling Green, KY Office
814 State St. suite 100, Bowling Green, KY, 42101
(270) 517-2014
Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC – Nashville Office
49 Music Square W #504, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 676-7060