Medically stationary refers to the point in an injured person's recovery when their medical condition has stabilized and is unlikely to improve or worsen significantly with additional treatment. This means the person has reached a plateau in their healing process, and while they may still have ongoing symptoms or limitations, further medical intervention is not expected to produce meaningful changes in their condition. Being declared medically stationary doesn't necessarily mean the person is fully recovered - they may still have permanent disabilities, chronic pain, or other lasting effects from their injuries.
In personal injury cases, reaching a medically stationary status is important because it allows doctors and lawyers to assess the permanent impact of the injuries and determine what compensation is appropriate for long-term damages. Insurance companies and courts need to know the final outcome of the injuries to calculate settlements that include future medical costs, permanent disability payments, and reduced earning capacity. Until someone is medically stationary, it's difficult to settle a case because the full extent of their recovery and ongoing needs remains uncertain, which is why most personal injury claims are resolved only after the injured person's condition has stabilized.
