If you were involved in an automobile accident and the other driver was at fault, that driver’s insurance company may ask you to allow it access to your medical records. You may hope this means that the insurance company will quickly settle your claim, but this isn’t usually the case. It is never a good idea to give the insurance adjuster a blanket authorization to obtain your medical records.
Consult an Attorney Before Signing a Medical Authorization
While the insurance adjuster will need your medical records relating to the injuries you suffered in the automobile accident, he does not need all your medical records. If he has access to all of your files, he could try to use information in your records to to hurt your case. This dangerous information could include:
Any pre-existing injury.
The adjuster might look for appointments where you saw the doctor about pain or an injury in the same area as your current injury. Even if this pain was minor, the adjuster might argue that you had a pre-existing injury and use this in an attempt to deny your claim or reduce the payout.
Doctor notes.
The adjuster could review the doctor’s notes for any inconsistent or contradictory statements you may have made regarding the extent of your injuries.
Frequent doctor visits.
If you had medical conditions unrelated to the accident that caused you to go to your doctor frequently, the insurance adjuster might claim that you were already in a fragile medical state, and this was part of the reason you were injured in the accident.
Have You Been Involved In A Henderson Or Las Vegas Car Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Henderson office directly at 702.405.6000 to schedule a free initial consultation.