Your Permanent Impairment Rating Could Be Worth More Than the Insurance Company Is Telling You
After months of medical treatment, surgeries, and physical therapy, your doctor finally tells you that you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement — that your condition is as good as it is going to get. What comes next is one of the most financially consequential moments in your entire workers’ compensation case: the assignment of your Permanent Impairment Rating (PIR ).
This single percentage number will determine how much money you receive for the permanent damage your work injury has done to your body. And the insurance company knows this. That is precisely why they will do everything in their power to make sure that number is as low as possible.
At Snow, Carpio & Weekley, PLC, we have spent decades fighting insurance companies that try to undervalue injured workers at this critical stage. We know how these ratings are calculated, we know how to challenge them, and we know how to ensure you receive every dollar you are entitled to.
What Is a Permanent Impairment Rating?
A Permanent Impairment Rating is a medical assessment — expressed as a percentage — that quantifies the degree to which a work-related injury has permanently reduced the function of a specific body part or your body as a whole. It can only be assigned after you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), meaning your condition has stabilized and no further significant recovery is expected.
In Arizona, physicians typically use the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment to calculate this number. The doctor will assess factors such as your range of motion, strength, nerve function, and the lasting impact of the injury on your daily activities.
The PIR is then used to calculate your permanent disability benefits — the compensation you receive for the lasting physical harm your injury has caused. A difference of even a few percentage points in your rating can translate into thousands of dollars in benefits. This is why the accuracy of your rating is not just a medical question — it is a financial one.
How Insurance Companies Manipulate Impairment Ratings
The insurance company has a powerful financial incentive to keep your rating as low as possible. Over our years of practice, we have seen them use the same tactics repeatedly:
Sending You to a “Friendly” Doctor
The insurance company will often direct you to a physician who has a track record of assigning low impairment ratings. These doctors are not necessarily dishonest, but they are selected precisely because their evaluations tend to favor the insurer.
Disputing Your Treating Physician’s Rating
If your own doctor assigns a rating the insurance company considers too high, they will hire their own medical expert to challenge it. They will file paperwork, request hearings, and drag out the process hoping you will accept a lower number just to end the fight.
Ignoring the Full Scope of Your Injuries
Insurance company doctors often focus narrowly on the primary injury while ignoring related conditions — for example, assessing only your knee while overlooking the back problems that developed because you were compensating for the knee injury for months.
How We Fight for an Accurate Rating
When Snow, Carpio & Weekley takes your case, we treat the impairment rating stage as one of the most important battles in your claim. Our strategy includes:
- Reviewing the Rating for Errors: We scrutinize every aspect of the assigned rating — the methodology used, the medical records reviewed, and whether all of your injuries were properly considered.
- Securing an Independent Medical Examination (IME): If the insurance company’s rating is unjustly low, we will arrange for a truly independent physician to perform a thorough evaluation and provide a second opinion.
- Presenting Vocational Evidence: A permanent impairment does not just affect your body — it affects your ability to earn a living. We work with vocational experts to demonstrate how your impairment limits your future earning capacity, which is a critical factor in calculating your total compensation.
- Litigating Before the Industrial Commission: If the insurance company refuses to accept a fair rating, we take the fight to the Industrial Commission of Arizona, presenting the full weight of the medical and vocational evidence on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions About Permanent Impairment Ratings
What is the difference between permanent impairment and permanent disability?
These two terms are often confused, but they are legally distinct. A permanent impairment is a medical finding — a percentage that describes the physical loss of function in your body. Permanent disability is a legal and economic finding — it describes how that physical impairment reduces your ability to earn wages. Your impairment rating is the starting point, but your age, education, work history, and the job market are all factored into the final disability determination. A higher impairment rating generally leads to a higher disability award.
Can I dispute my impairment rating if I think it is too low?
Yes, absolutely. You have the right to challenge a rating you believe is inaccurate. To do so, you must file a Request for Hearing with the Industrial Commission of Arizona within the timeframe specified in your Notice of Claim Status. This is a formal legal process, and having an experienced attorney is essential to presenting the medical evidence needed to support a higher rating.
What if my doctor and the insurance company’s doctor give me different ratings?
This is very common and is one of the most contested issues in Arizona workers’ compensation. When two physicians disagree, the Industrial Commission will schedule a hearing where both opinions are presented. A judge will weigh the evidence and determine which rating is more credible. In some cases, the judge may order an additional independent examination. Having an attorney who knows how to cross-examine medical witnesses is critical in these situations.
Does my impairment rating affect my future medical care?
Your impairment rating primarily determines your permanent disability benefits. However, it can also affect future medical care. If your injury is classified as permanent, you may be entitled to ongoing medical treatment to manage your condition. Our attorneys ensure that your right to future medical care is preserved as part of your overall settlement or award.
What happens if I accept a settlement before getting my impairment rating?
Accepting a full and final settlement before your impairment rating is determined is extremely risky. Once you sign a settlement agreement, you typically waive your right to any future benefits related to that injury — including the permanent disability benefits your impairment rating would have generated. Never sign a settlement without first consulting with an attorney who can evaluate the full value of your claim.
Do Not Let One Number Define Your Future
Your permanent impairment rating is one of the most important numbers in your workers’ compensation case. Do not let the insurance company assign it without a fight.
At Snow, Carpio & Weekley, we work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win. Contact us today or call us at (877) 370-5788 for a completely free, no-obligation consultation. Let us make sure your rating reflects the true extent of what you have been through.
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