Initial Injury Evaluation

As soon as possible — ideally within 24 to 72 hours of the accident. Early evaluation is important for two reasons. Medically, prompt assessment identifies injuries that may need immediate treatment and establishes a treatment baseline that improves long-term outcomes. Legally, early evaluation creates a contemporaneous medical record that establishes the temporal relationship between the accident and the injuries. Delayed evaluation gives insurance carriers grounds to argue that the injuries were not caused by the accident, or that their severity is overstated.

Emergency rooms focus on ruling out life-threatening conditions — they perform the minimum assessment necessary to ensure the patient is stable for discharge. They are not equipped or designed to produce the comprehensive, objective, medico-legal documentation needed for personal injury claims. A PI-focused injury evaluation at MAIC produces goniometric ROM measurements, structured neurological examinations with specific myotomal and dermatomal testing, detailed causation analysis, and a structured narrative report — none of which are typically produced in emergency settings.

Following the initial evaluation, MAIC's PI coordination team schedules all ordered imaging (MRI, X-ray) and specialist consultations on a coordinated timeline. The treating physician receives imaging results and specialist findings and integrates them into the ongoing clinical record. Patients are followed at regular intervals with documented functional assessments. When maximum medical improvement is reached, a final summary report and permanency assessment are issued. Throughout this process, the attorney's office receives milestone updates without having to request them.

Yes. The initial injury evaluation at MAIC is fully covered under New York State No-Fault insurance for motor vehicle accident patients. Coverage begins on the date of the accident, and treatment must be initiated within 30 days of the accident to comply with NYS No-Fault regulations. Medical liens are also accepted. Our intake team verifies coverage at the time of scheduling.

Yes — attorney referral is our primary intake pathway for PI patients. When an attorney refers a patient, our intake team contacts the patient directly to schedule the initial evaluation, typically within 24–48 hours. We send intake confirmation to the attorney's office. The attorney's office receives copies of all reports and is notified at every clinical milestone. MAIC's PI liaison serves as the dedicated point of contact for all attorney-referred cases.