After an accident in Louisiana, you may be dealing with injuries, medical bills, and stress about your future. While still reeling from your accident, you may be contacted by an insurance adjuster asking you seemingly innocent questions and asking you to sign a medical release form so they can review your records and process your claim.
It sounds reasonable, but the insurance company adjuster is not your ally. They are looking for anything they can use to deny and devalue your claim. You should not immediately sign a medical release form, as this can compromise the value of your claim. First, consult an experienced Baton Rouge accident lawyer with a proven record of protecting clients and securing maximum compensation.
What Is a Medical Release Form?
A medical release form is a legal document that authorizes insurance companies to access your medical records. Under federal privacy laws like HIPAA, your medical information is protected, and healthcare providers cannot share it without your permission. This release form permits the insurance company to review your medical history.
The Hidden Dangers Of Signing Too Quickly
Most medical release forms from insurance companies are deliberately broad. When you sign it, you are not just giving them access to your records relating to accident injuries. You are handing over your entire medical history. This information includes records from years before your accident that have nothing to do with your current injuries.
Insurance companies look for pre-existing conditions. If they find that you have had a similar injury in the past, they will try to argue that your current issues are a result of your prior injury. This is true even if your prior injury was minor and happened years ago. Harmful tactics like this can significantly reduce your compensation or lead to a claim denial.
Insurance adjusters will scrutinize every aspect of your medical care, looking for gaps in treatment and questioning whether specific procedures were necessary. They use this information to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
Additionally, you lose your privacy when you sign a broad medical release. Medical records can contain sensitive information about your physical and mental health, your medications, and personal conditions that have nothing to do with your accident. Once you sign their release, your private information will be in the hands of the insurance adjuster.
What You Should Do Instead
You are not required to sign a medical release from the insurance company. You should consult an experienced accident lawyer before signing anything.
An experienced Baton Rouge car accident attorney can:
- Determine exactly which medical records are relevant to your claim
- Obtain the relevant medical records for you
- Ensure only relevant information is shared with the insurance company
- Protect your privacy and prevent misuse of your medical records
- Negotiate directly with insurance adjusters so you don’t have to
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, we know how signing a broad medical release can hurt your claim. Our car accident attorneys know how to protect your rights while still providing the insurance company with the information they actually need to process your claim.
Contact a Baton Rouge Accident Attorney to Protect Your Rights After An Accident
After an accident, do not immediately sign a medical release for an insurance company. Contact an experienced Baton Rouge injury attorney with a proven record of success to protect your rights and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, we have a proven record of securing maximum compensation for our clients, and we know how to protect your rights when dealing with insurance companies.
Call our car accident lawyers in Baton Rouge at (225) 999-1111 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation.