Maximum medical improvement (MMI) is the point at which your treating physician determines that your condition has stabilized and is unlikely to improve significantly with further treatment. This is a critical milestone in your case because it triggers the assessment of any permanent impairment and opens the door to negotiating a final lump-sum settlement. Once MMI is reached, temporary disability benefits stop. If you are rated with a permanent impairment, you may be entitled to permanent partial or total disability benefits. Having an attorney at this stage is especially important, as the impairment rating assigned significantly affects the value of your settlement.