Many workers wait too long to consult with an attorney when their medical records are disputed. You have 10 days to secure the future of your quality of life and financial security, and the clock is already running.
The QME/AME appointment is the most critical medical event in your entire workers’ compensation case. This moment dictates the fate of your health and livelihood.
The doctor's report from this single examination will serve as the foundation for your final settlement. If that foundation is weak, your compensation, including your permanent disability payments and future medical care, will suffer.
As you read this, the insurance company is using every tool to minimize your claim. Without an attorney, you are forced to choose a doctor randomly from a panel of three strangers within 10 days. You don’t have to face this stress alone.
Whether you have a QME date scheduled or are in the process of making a selection, contact us ASAP.
Let our QME & AME workers’ comp attorneys help you with your AME & QME search, selection, and preparation to ensure you receive the benefits you deserve and can focus on what matters most – reaching a place of closure and healing.
Don't let the QME deadline cause panic. Call us right away for a free case review. We will immediately evaluate your QME notice, prepare you for this evaluation, and establish a plan to protect your rights. Start for free and only pay after your case is settled.
We shoulder the burden of the complex process with aggressive, dedicated legal support, guiding your path and managing all negotiations and litigation, as necessary. This includes rigorously preparing you for the QME/AME exam and challenging any unfair medical findings.
The QME/AME report is the evidence used to determine your final benefits. We work to secure the compensation that is rightfully yours by ensuring the strongest medical evidence supports your case. Pursue meaningful compensation based on the true value of your claim for peace of mind.
“After experiencing poor service with another attorney, Jeff helped me close my case. Very professional, courteous, and best of all—always called me back. Couldn’t ask for more.”
– L.P.
“Jeff is very punctual and his concern for my being is genuine. I believe his work goes beyond his line of duty. He shows passion and drive for the well-being of others. His office is very fortunate to have him on their team.”
– Michael C.
“Jeff is the best. Professional, efficient, and just a great person to work with. Thank you, Jeff, for your kindness, attentiveness, and for taking us on as clients.”
– Gianeva S.
“Gratamente agradecido con Jeff el abogado que manejo y resolvió mi caso por accidente laboral, recibí gracias a ellos la atención médica que me había sido negada, tienen un excelente equipo de trabajo (Vanesa es la mejor de todas) siempre dispuesto a ayudar y resolver cualquier duda. Gracias.”
– Johan A.
“Jeff is the best. Professional, efficient, and just a great person to work with. Thank you, Jeff, for your kindness, attentiveness, and for taking us on as clients.”
– Gianeva S.
“Gratamente agradecido con Jeff el abogado que manejo y resolvió mi caso por accidente laboral, recibí gracias a ellos la atención médica que me había sido negada, tienen un excelente equipo de trabajo (Vanesa es la mejor de todas) siempre dispuesto a ayudar y resolver cualquier duda. Gracias.”
– Johan A.
“After experiencing poor service with another attorney, Jeff helped me close my case. Very professional, courteous, and best of all—always called me back. Couldn’t ask for more.”
– L.P.
“Jeff is very punctual and his concern for my being is genuine. I believe his work goes beyond his line of duty. He shows passion and drive for the well-being of others. His office is very fortunate to have him on their team.”
– Michael C.
A Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) is a state-certified doctor who provides an unbiased medical opinion on your work injury, which becomes the foundation of your workers’ compensation claim.
If your employer or their insurance company disputes the findings of your treating doctor, you will be sent a notice for a QME. The moment you receive this notice, the clock is ticking on a critical 10-day deadline to select a doctor. Making the wrong choice can ruin your case.
Contact SoCal Workers Comp immediately. We are the workers-only firm that ensures your case is built on the strongest medical evidence.
When it comes to workers’ comp, an AME (Agreed Medical Evaluator) is a doctor who is chosen and agreed upon by both your workers' compensation attorney and the insurance company.
This is generally the preferred option because it removes the risk of a random QME (Qualified Medical Evaluator) panel selection. Using an AME allows us to select a respected physician with expertise relevant to your injury, ensuring your case is built on the strongest medical evidence.
This is a strategic advantage we use to aggressively fight for your maximum compensation. If you have been injured, contact our team right now to pursue the AME path.
The QME exam is a mandatory, high-stakes medical examination used to determine three key factors: whether your injury is truly work-related, the extent of your disability, and your future medical needs. This single examination dictates the value of your entire settlement.
Without an attorney, you risk being unprepared and allowing the insurance company to use the results to minimize your payout. The pressure is immense, but you don't have to face it alone.
SoCal Workers Comp aggressively prepares you for this critical examination, ensuring the doctor has a full, accurate picture of your injury.
Many people come to us asking about cost when staring down the barrel of a QME workers’ comp evaluation in California. The good news is that this evaluation should not cost you anything directly.
Under California law, your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance, which is responsible for paying for your total medical care. This includes the fees for the Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) who is examining you to assess your claim.
However, it’s important to understand that there could be significant long-term financial consequences if you do not navigate this process with the help of an expert guide, since this evaluation will play a major role in determining the settlement you receive.
The urgency, therefore, is not about the cost, but the quality of the evaluation. It might not cost you now, but it could cost more than you can conceive in the future. The QME report is critical. Making the wrong choice from the random panel can lead to severely reduced benefits.
Contact SoCal Workers Comp for a free consultation to protect your financial future.
The QME rating scale is part of California’s system for determining the percentage of permanent disability you have suffered due to your work injury.
This percentage directly translates into the amount of permanent disability payments you will receive. If the rating is low, the compensation you get is low, regardless of the severity of your injury. Do not let your rights be violated by an unfair rating.
An objective and accurate rating is the key to maximizing your settlement. SoCal Workers Comp fights to ensure the medical foundation of your claim, the QME/AME report, leads to the maximum compensation you are rightfully entitled to.
The difference between AME and QME is often control and strategy. A QME (Qualified Medical Evaluator) is chosen randomly from a state-provided panel of three doctors when you are unrepresented by an attorney.
A workers’ comp QME evaluation forces you to make a high-stakes, blind choice under a 10-day deadline. An AME (Agreed Medical Evaluator) is a doctor mutually agreed upon and hand-picked by your attorney and the insurance company’s lawyer.
The workers’ comp AME evaluation is generally preferred because it allows SoCal Workers Comp to select a respected physician with a proven track record of objectivity and relevant expertise, ensuring a stronger foundation for your claim.
When a QME is required, the State of California's Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) will provide you with a randomly generated panel of three QME doctors near you. You must choose one of the three within 10 days.
This process is built on chance and puts immense pressure on injured workers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
Instead of relying on random chance, hire SoCal Workers Comp. We advocate to secure an AME, an experienced, objective doctor we know and trust, to give your case the strong medical foundation it deserves and remove the element of risk.
Choosing from the random QME panel is an urgent, high-stakes decision that must be made within 10 days of receiving the notice.
You must quickly research the three doctors' specialties and locations to select the one most relevant to your specific injury. This is too critical to get wrong. If you are forced to use the QME path, immediately consult with SoCal Workers Comp.
We will leverage our experience to rapidly vet the panel and advise you on the strongest choice, minimizing the risk to your claim and ensuring you don't face this immense pressure alone.
Facing a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) or Agreed Medical Evaluator (AME) appointment is intimidating, but proper preparation is the absolute key to protecting your rights and maximizing your final settlement. Here is how to prepare in 5 steps:
It’s important to understand that the QME doctor has a legally mandated deadline to issue their report. Typically, the California workers’ compensation QME report timeline is 30 days from the examination date. However, this period can sometimes be extended.
The urgency here is not just receiving the report, but understanding and acting on it. The moment the report is issued, the insurance company will use it to make a final offer that may violate your rights.
SoCal Workers Comp is ready to review your report the day it arrives, challenging any unfair findings and aggressively pursuing the full compensation you deserve.
After the QME evaluation, what you can expect is for the doctor to issue a formal medical report to the attorneys and the insurance company.
This report is the basis for determining the two most critical aspects of your case: your eligibility for benefits and the percentage of permanent disability. If the report is favorable, negotiations begin; if it is unfavorable, the insurance company will deny or severely limit your benefits.
SoCal Workers Comp takes immediate, aggressive action. We use the report to push for the maximum settlement or prepare for litigation, ensuring no employer or organization violates your rights.
A QME report is a complex, dense legal document that can be intentionally confusing, but it holds the key to your financial future. Never agree to a settlement before an expert reviews your report. The key sections to look for are:
Contact SoCal Workers Comp for help with treatment & compensation
