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Should I Release My Medical Records After a Truck Accident Injury?

Medical records after a truck accident injury.

 

Truck accidents are often serious and may result in severe injuries. It is common for the truck driver or owner’s insurance company to contact you following the accident. The insurance adjuster will ask you about the accident and find out about your injuries. It is important to remember that the insurance company is not on your side. Their goal is to try to resolve the claim as fast as they can and for as little as possible and pay nothing if they can get away with that!

Should I give the adjuster a medical release?

If you were hurt in a truck accident, do not hesitate to contact a trucking accident attorney to assist you and help you protect your rights.

What is a Medical Records Release?

A medical records release is written permission for health providers to release your medical information. The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) along with state laws require health care providers do not release medical information unless the patient gives written permission. Therefore, your doctor and hospital will not disclose patient information to the insurance company or anyone else. The HIPAA protects your privacy in regards to your health and medical records.

Why Does the Adjuster Need My Medical Records?

It is not unusual for the insurance adjuster to request your medical records. There are several reasons they want to view your records. The insurance company wants to verify your injuries and medical treatment. They want to make sure that the treatment you received for your injuries was reasonable. In addition, they may want to view your prior medical conditions and care because they may try to prove that you had prior injuries that are not related to the accident. Remember that the company will try to pay as little as possible for the damages caused by their negligent insured part.

Should I Sign a Medical Release?

It is best to review the medical release to make sure that it is correct. The insurance company may tell you that they cannot process the claim until they receive your records. However, they do not need to see all of your records but only those related to the injuries from the accident. Limiting the scope in time is also important for your privacy because you don’t want the insurance company getting unrelated medical records going back decades.

 

Therefore, it is best to have your attorney for the truck accident review the request and make sure that they amend it to include permission only for your accident-related treatments. You want to provide records, but only those that are necessary for the claim. You certainly do not need the insurance company looking at your unrelated prior treatments and trying to use those to try to reduce your current claim.

If you were hurt in a truck accident, you may be upset and overwhelmed. You need to take care of your medical needs and let a qualified truck accident attorney handle the legal issues.

Your lawyer will protect your interests and will always advise you as to your choices and options that are best for your particular case. Do your homework and select the best 18-wheeler accident attorney you can find as soon as possible after the crash.

Call us for a FREE No-Obligation consultation about an injury accident in Texas.

Call 281.893.0760   24-7!

 

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Post under: blog, Helpful Information

About Greg Baumgartner

Truck accident lawyer Greg Baumgartner
Greg Baumgartner is a preeminent rated personal injury lawyer based in Houston, Texas, with over three decades of experience representing severely injured clients in truck accidents. He founded Baumgartner Law Firm, in 1985, with a mission to provide excellent legal representation and personalized attention to every client.