What is maximum medical improvement (MMI) and why does it matter?

Maximum medical improvement (MMI) is the point at which your treating physician determines that your condition has stabilized and further significant recovery is not expected, even with continued treatment. You are not necessarily fully healed at MMI — it means your condition is unlikely to improve substantially further. MMI is a critical milestone in a personal injury case for several reasons. Until you reach MMI, you do not know the full extent of your future medical needs or permanent impairments, which are essential to accurately calculating your damages. Settling before MMI is risky because you may not appreciate the full scope of your future costs. Once you reach MMI, your doctor can assess your permanent impairment rating and formulate a prognosis for future treatment needs. Workers' compensation and personal injury attorneys typically advise clients to wait until MMI before settling, unless financial hardship makes earlier resolution unavoidable.