The worst mistake people make is treating the insurance company's "IME" like a neutral medical appointment.

What should have happened first: after a holiday-weekend crash on I-95, Route 3, or near the Augusta Civic Center, you should have gotten regular medical care from your own treating providers and made sure every symptom was documented, even if the neck, back, or concussion symptoms showed up a day or two later. In Maine, delayed symptoms are common after a pileup or motorcycle wreck. If you were driving for work, workers' comp and a claim against the other driver can run on parallel tracks.

If an insurer quickly pushes an IME - an "independent medical exam" - before consistent treatment is underway, the angle is usually straightforward: they want a doctor they chose to say your problems are from a pre-existing condition, a minor strain, or no longer need care. That report can be used to slow or deny bills.

What to do now: keep treating with your actual doctors. Do not create a treatment gap unless a provider discharges you. Get copies of:

• ER records
• Primary care and specialist notes
• Imaging reports
• PT attendance records
• Work restrictions

If the IME is tied to a workers' comp claim, note the date, attend if required, and write down what happened: how long it lasted, what the doctor asked, and whether they reviewed your records. In Maine, treatment disputes in workers' comp often end up before the Maine Workers' Compensation Board. If it is a liability insurer for the other driver, they generally do not get to control your treating doctor.

What comes next: expect the insurer to rely on the IME to question causation, especially if you had prior back, neck, or shoulder issues. Your treating doctors' timeline matters more if it is consistent and complete. Maine gives you 6 years to file most personal injury claims, but medical proof gets weaker fast when there are gaps, missed visits, or undocumented symptoms.