Your solicitors have asked us to arrange an examination for you so that a medical report can be provided and used to assess the value of your personal injury claim for compensation. These notes are to help you understand the process clearly.
Pre examination
Why do I need to attend an appointment?
The medical expert will provide a medical report detailing the injuries you sustained in your accident (or as a result of negligent medical treatment) and an opinion on how long it took or will take to recover. Without this report, your solicitor cannot pursue your claim.
When will I receive the appointment details?
Either we or the expert will contact you by telephone or letter to confirm the time, date and venue the appointment will take place at.
How long will I wait for an appointment?
If we need to obtain your medical records before the appointment, it may take between 6-8 weeks to obtain all of them from your GP, hospital, physiotherapist etc. We then send these to the expert who then provides an appointment. Their waiting lists vary, but as a general guide the waiting time for a GP to see you would be 5-8 weeks and for any other type of expert would be 8-12 weeks.
Will this waiting time for the appointment affect my claim?
No. The expert will need to determine how well you have recovered from your injuries. If they saw you within a few weeks of the accident/incident, it would be hard for them to do this. If you have suffered very serious injuries in the accident, your appointment with the expert will likely be deferred until such a time as you are making a recovery, so the longer term impact of your injuries is better known.
Do I need to confirm that I can attend the appointment?
Yes. Advise either us or the expert as soon as possible otherwise your appointment may be cancelled.
What should I do if I cannot attend my appointment?
Advise either us or the expert as soon as possible. Late cancellation at less than 10 days notice or non-attendance may result in a fee which you may be personally liable for.
What do I need to do before the examination?
Take along a note of the relevant dates if you need to. Be prepared for the questioning nature of the examination: the expert has to prepare a report as a witness to the court and does need to know lots of detail to be certain that he has the correct facts to give his informed opinion.
Attending the appointment
Most experts will allow you to take a friend or relative into the examination if you prefer to do so. If you attend alone but want a chaperone to be present for the examination, let the expert know. If you have a joint appointment on the same date as a family member/friend, make sure you arrive in time for the earliest appointment. If you prefer to be seen on your own, let the expert know.
What happens if I fail to attend my appointment?
Your case will then be delayed and non-attendance may result in a fee which you may be personally liable for. The expert may also be unwilling to offer a further appointment.
Can I claim travel expenses/lost wages for the appointment?
You will need to discuss this with your solicitors prior to the examination.
What time should I arrive?
Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment time and allow enough time to park and find the venue. Be sure that you know how to find the venue ahead of time and contact either the expert or us if you need assistance, directions / maps are available upon request. If you arrive late, the expert may not have enough time to see you before the next patient is due, and a fee may be charged for the unattended appointment.
During your examination
How long will the examination last?
This will vary according to the type of expert you are seeing and the nature of your injuries. Typically a GP examination might last 15 minutes and a psychology examination might last 45 minutes.
What happens at the examination?
You will be asked to provide Photographic identification i.e. drivers license or passport, so please check the details in your appointment letter. The expert will ask lots of questions about ~ How the accident occurred ~ How your symptoms and injuries developed ~ How your recovery progressed ~ Date and details of any medical treatment ~ How this affected your work life (time off), home life or leisure activities ~ Any extra help you needed as a result of your injuries. You may also be physically examined if appropriate and it might be necessary for clothing to be removed in order for a thorough examination to be done. The expert may dictate his report as the examination progresses or may instead take notes.
Will the expert give me advice about treatment?
It is not the expert’s role to offer you medical advice in your examination, though any recommendations will be detailed in their report.
Post examination
When will I see the report?
The report will be forwarded to your solicitor approximately 3 weeks after the examination. They will then discuss the contents with you and advise about compensation.
Other
Can I see my own GP or treating doctors for the examination?
No. The expert has been agreed by the Third Party Insurers and must be impartial so your own GP or other doctors who you are currently seeing / previously seen can’t be chosen. If you have previously seen the instructed medical expert for treatment please contact our offices prior to making any appointment arrangements.
How is the expert chosen? Is there anyone closer?
We have a panel of experts who specialise in producing medical reports on injuries and are trained to do this, as not all doctors are. We choose the closest suitably qualified expert to examine you and so it is important that you do your best to attend.
Why do I need to sign a mandate for my medical records?
Your surgery or hospital will only release your records if you give written permission, as required by the Data Protection Act 1998.
Why does the expert need to see all my records?
The expert examining you will usually need to see all your records so they are aware of any pre-existing conditions. This will enable them to reach an informed opinion and give a definite prognosis.
