I Have Been Asked To Release My Medical Records To The Other Driver’s Insurance Adjuster. Should I Do This?

No one thinks about how they’ll handle a car accident if ever they’re involved in one. Most people get into their cars on a daily basis assuming they’re safe and sound, but few understand just how terrifying and confusing it is to become the victim of an accident. Few things leave you feeling as inadequate or unprepared as being hit by someone else and wondering what happens next. There’s police reports, insurance calls, deductibles, potential lawsuits, damages, and so much more associated with an accident. If you suffer injuries, that’s just one more issue you’re worried about.

If you are injured in a car accident, it’s not clear how to handle the situation. You know you shouldn’t be responsible for paying medical bills from your injuries if someone else caused your accident, but you’re unsure how to handle this. The best thing you can do is contact a personal injury attorney. Then call your insurance company and ask them how you should handle this situation. They can guide you through the process if you’re using them to pay for the damages to your car and your health while they seek repayment from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Most insurance policies cover medical bills up to $10,000. That’s not much if you’re injured seriously. One surgery or a few nights in the hospital for your recovery can cause your medical bills to soar much higher than that, and you become responsible for the additional costs even with your own health insurance in use. This is why you must know what you’re entitled to, what to say, what to do, and who you should talk to about your medical needs.

Many insurance adjusters will call victims and ask them to release their medical records. They’ll claim they need these records to help them gather the evidence they need to make payment to you to cover medical bills. Never, ever provide medical release to the other insurance company. This company does not need your medical records, and signing them over to them could hurt you.

Why Not Release Medical Records?

You are not required by law to release your medical records to anyone following an accident. When you do, the insurance agency goes through all your records. They’re not going to stop at just the records associated with your accident. They’re looking for any records from your childhood on that might allow them to get out of paying you for your medical bills. Any injury you suffered at any point in your life could be used as grounds for nonpayment.

For example, if you were involved in a minor car accident and treated for whiplash when you were 17, the other insurance company could use that information to deny paying your medical bills on the basis your whiplash was a pre-existing condition and not one caused by this accident. You don’t want your own medical history used against you in a car accident case.

If you have any questions about what’s legally required of you, it’s time to call an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases. Our office is here for you any time someone asks you for something and you’re unsure how to proceed. Don’t sign over your medical records, and don’t assume you are required by law simply because someone with some authority told you it must be done.

Hiring a personal injury attorney means you’re not longer responsible for dealing with the other insurance company. It becomes your attorney’s issue, and they know the law. They’ll ensure your case remains solid and no one tries to take advantage of you using loopholes that might leave you in a financial and medical bind following an accident caused by a negligent driver.