Over the course of your personal injury claim, you will be asked to attend various appointments and assessments in order to support the physical losses that you have suffered as a result of the incident. This may include report requests to your consulting GP, attending an orthopaedic surgeon or even attending a psychologist or psychiatrist for an assessment.
These reports assess your injuries, as well as the past and future impact they have had and/or will continue to have on your life. The reports are also vital in assessing the value of claimable compensation.
There are many reasons why an insurer may want to seek another opinion on your injuries. For instance, they may believe your doctor’s report didn’t accurately assess all of your injuries, they may want a more specialized opinion or simply need an independent assessment. The insurer is responsible for paying for these reports, as they are the requesting party.
Once the insurer receives the report, they provide a copy to your lawyer (if you have legal representation) or to you directly, so that you can consider the accuracy of the report.
Failing to attend these appointments can be detrimental to your claim, unless there is valid reason for your non-attendance. Cancellation fees will usually apply, which must be paid by you and are not recoverable as part of your claim.
It is important that you have the right advice, information and support throughout your claim to maximise your outcome.
We look forward to assisting you in the future