For vehicle accident claims, the CRT may appoint an expert to conduct an Independent Medical Examination (IME).
The expert is an independent health professional who gives an opinion about injuries suffered by a participant in a vehicle accident claim. This might include the nature and extent of the injuries, diagnosis, and expected recovery.
This article is only an overview of the IME process. If you have questions we didn’t answer here, please contact us.
View a diagram of the IME process.
Who can ask for an IME?
Any participant in a vehicle accident claim can ask for an IME. A tribunal member may also direct that an IME be done, if they need it to make a decision about the claim.
How long does the IME process take?
Every claim is different, and the IME process depends on people and processes outside the CRT. But you can expect the IME process to take several weeks. In some cases it could take 3 months or more.
How do I ask for an IME?
- Once your claim has been assigned to a CRT case manager, you can ask them for an “IME Request” form. (Any participant in the claim can ask for an IME.)
- Submit the form and include medical evidence. The form also asks who you think should pay for the IME and why.
- We will send your form and medical evidence to the other participants in the claim. They will be asked to respond to the request, say who they think should pay for it, and submit any medical evidence they have about the injuries.
- A tribunal member will review the request, response, and evidence. They will decide whether to order an IME and who will pay for it.
- If the tribunal member orders an IME, we will send all relevant medical evidence to an independent health professional. The professional will review the evidence and write a report. In some cases, they might do an in-person examination.
- The independent health professional will send their report to the CRT. We will make the report available to all participants in the claim.
- During the decision preparation process, the participants can submit written arguments about the IME.
What if a tribunal member directs that an IME be done?
- We will notify you.
- We’ll ask who you think should pay for the IME and why.
- We will send all relevant medical evidence to an independent health professional. The professional will review the evidence and write a report. In some cases, they might do an in-person examination.
- The independent health professional will send their report to the CRT. We will make the report available to all participants in the claim.
- You will have an opportunity to submit written arguments about the IME before the tribunal member makes their final decision about the claim.