Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) is the point in an injured person's recovery when their condition has stabilized and further medical treatment is unlikely to result in significant improvement of their injuries. This doesn't necessarily mean the person is completely healed or back to normal - it simply means they've reached the best level of recovery that can reasonably be expected, and their condition is now considered permanent or stable. For example, someone with a back injury might reach MMI even though they still have ongoing pain and limitations, because additional treatment won't substantially improve their condition.
In personal injury cases, reaching MMI is a crucial milestone because it allows doctors and lawyers to fully assess the long-term impact of the injuries and calculate final damages. Insurance companies and courts need to know the permanent effects of an injury to determine appropriate compensation for things like future medical care, permanent disability, and reduced earning capacity. Until someone reaches MMI, it's difficult to settle a case because no one knows the full extent of the person's recovery or what ongoing treatment and limitations they'll face, which is why most personal injury settlements occur after the victim has been declared at MMI by their treating physicians.
