Don’t Sign an Insurance Medical Release After a Truck Accident

One of the most common mistakes that we have seen clients make after being injured in a serious Riverside County truck accident is signing a medical authorization provided by the at-fault party’s insurance company.

We understand that after an accident, all you want to do is regain your health and be compensated for your medical bills and lost wages from missing work, as well as for your pain and suffering. We also understand that when the at-fault party’s insurance adjustor contacts you regarding the claim, that person is going to sound very pleasant and helpful over the phone.

What you must realize is that the adjustor’s main goal is to settle your claim for as cheaply as possible. No matter how nice he seems, he does not have your best interests at heart.

So what does this have to do with not signing the medical authorization that he sends you? The adjustor will tell you that the authorization is needed to obtain your medical records and bills so that you can get paid on the claim. While this is true, what the insurance adjustor will not tell you is that signing the authorization gives the adjustor the power and permission to obtain all of your medical records—even the private ones that have absolutely nothing to do with your Southern California truck accident injury.

Signing that one piece of paper allows the adjustor to dig up any dirt that he can find on you, including any medical records that might reflect poorly on your lifestyle. The easiest way to avoid having an adjustor prying through your medical history is to never sign anything without first speaking with an attorney experienced in handling truck accident claims in California.

In fact, if the adjustor calls you after the accident, simply tell him—politely—that you need time to contact a lawyer, and that the lawyer will get back with him shortly. And leave the rest up to us, so that you can focus on getting back on your feet.

To schedule your complimentary case evaluation, call the Riverside County car accident lawyers at Russell & Lazarus today at (949) 851-0222 or fill out our online form and a lawyer from our office will get back to you immediately.