$500 to $2,000 is a common range for an insurance medical exam, and the mistake people make is treating that doctor like their regular doctor or like the insurer's opinion controls the claim.

It does not.

In Indiana, the insurer's exam is usually an IME - an independent medical examination in name, but it is arranged and paid for by the insurance company. That doctor is evaluating your injuries for the claim, not managing your care. If you were hurt in Carmel, whether on US-31, Keystone Parkway, or a local road, you can still see your own OB, ER doctor, orthopedist, or maternal-fetal specialist and use their opinions in your case.

That matters even more if you are pregnant. If the insurer's doctor says you are "fine" but you are having pain, contractions, bleeding, reduced fetal movement, vision changes, or abdominal trauma concerns, your own treating doctors should decide whether you need fetal monitoring, ultrasound, follow-up imaging, work restrictions, or specialist referral.

If a lawsuit has already been filed, Indiana courts can order an exam under Indiana Trial Rule 35, but even then, that exam is not the final word. Your treating doctors' records, imaging, prenatal notes, and follow-up recommendations still matter.

What to do next:

• Keep the IME appointment if required, but do not rely on it for treatment.
• Follow up promptly with your own doctors and ask for copies of records.
• Tell each provider about the crash and every symptom, including pregnancy-related concerns.
• Do not accept a rushed year-end settlement before your doctors know whether you or the baby need more monitoring.

Indiana's general deadline for most injury claims is 2 years from the accident date, under Indiana Code 34-11-2-4, so getting a second opinion does not hurt your claim - waiting too long can.