The insurance adjuster that is assigned to your personal injury claim may tell you that they need access to your medical records in order to verify your injuries. This may seem like a harmless request, but that’s not always the case. Here’s what you need to know about submitting your medical records to an insurance company:
Why Does the Insurance Company Really Want to See Your Medical Records?
It’s true that the insurance company must verify your injuries prior to compensating you, but that’s not the only reason why the insurer wants to see your medical records.
Insurance adjusters want access to all of your medical records so they can look for any type of information that can be used to lower the value of your claim or deny it altogether.
For example, the insurance adjuster may look through your records and find evidence of a pre-existing injury that you sustained in a car accident several years ago. The insurance adjuster could then argue that your current injuries are related to this accident from your past, not the most recent accident in question. As a result, the insurance adjuster may deny your claim for compensation.
How to Respond to Requests For Your Records
It’s best to discuss each request for your medical records with your attorney. Some requests may be reasonable, whereas others will not. Let your attorney review each request to determine whether the insurance company is asking for records that are relevant to your claim.
Your attorney may need to ask the insurance adjuster to explain why they need to see the requested records before deciding whether or not the request is reasonable. If the request is reasonable, obtain and submit the records to the insurance company with the help of your attorney.
Do not sign a document that gives the at-fault party’s insurance company the right to access all of your medical records. You should also avoid giving the insurance adjuster verbal permission to obtain your medical records. You are allowed to protect your privacy, so do not let the insurance company pressure you into giving away this important right.
Have you been injured? If so, contact personal injury attorney Martin Gasparian at once. Mr. Gasparian will aggressively negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company to secure the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Schedule a free consultation regarding your case by calling 559-203-3333 or submitting your information at MaisonLaw.com.
