Stop: Don’t Sign A Medical Authorization After Your Texas Truck Wreck

In the aftermath of a Texas truck accident, one of the first things that will happen is that the insurance company for truck driver will start talking. Especially if it is clear that the 18-wheeler driver is at fault for the wreck, the insurance adjuster will try to get chummy with you - quickly. They will ask you all kinds of questions about your life, your family and anything else to get on good terms with you. One of the first things they will ask for is for you to sign a medical release form. They might tell you that this is so they can get your claim resolved quickly and get you treatment for your injuries. They might tell you something about getting all the paperwork taken care of so you can focus on getting well. Don't believe them.

Why is signing a medical release a bad idea?

If you've been hurt in a truck wreck in Texas where there is clear liability that the trucker caused you wreck, you can expect that the insurance company will be calling you and you can expect that at some point they will ask you to sign a medical release. The reason signing a medical release or authorization is such a terrible idea is because you are giving them more information than they need. Essentially, you are giving them your entire medical history.

What can signing over medical authorization do to your claim? Well, it can ruin your entire case. You see, the reason the insurance company wants you to give them medical authorization is because they want to find evidence that will give them a way out of paying your medical expenses.

It works like this:

You get hurt in a truck accident that wasn't your fault and need to have back surgery.
You mistakenly sign a blanket release that allows the insurance company to look through your entire medical history.
They discover that you sought treatment for back pain in the past and can now argue the need for back surgery pre-existed the accident - even if that's not true.

The insurer will need to know about the injuries you sustained in the semi-truck wreck and how you were treated in order to reimburse you, so it might seem like a reasonable request for you to sign your medical records over to them. However, be very cautious if they ask for a blanket medical release. Remember - you aren't required by law to sign a medical release from the insurance company and you can always submit copies of the relevant records yourself.

Keep your privacy rights intact and talk to an experienced Texas truck accident attorney, like those at the Anderson Law Firm, before signing anything from the insurance company. For a free case consultation to talk about your 18-wheeler accident, contact our truck wreck attorneys in Fort Worth.

Other Articles You Might Be Interested In:
Don't Rush to Settle Your Texas Truck Wreck Claim
Can I Handle My Truck Wreck Injury Claim Without a Lawyer?
How Much Is My Truck Wreck Case Worth?
How will a trucking company try to trick me after the wreck?
Don't Show Me The Money: Why Taking The Insurance Company's Initial Offer Is Shooting Yourself in the Foot

The Anderson Law Firm offers free no obligation consultations to people injured in accidents or who have suffered physical harm as a result of someone else's actions. We do not charge you to initially discuss your situation and establish whether you have a claim to pursue. You can call us and discuss your case over the phone, we can set up an appointment for you to come into our office, or we can visit you in your home anywhere in the metroplex.

If after meeting with us you decide that we are the best personal injury lawyer for you, then we will enter into a contingent fee agreement. This means that we only get paid when we win a settlement or jury verdict in your favor. You don't pay us anything up front. We will cover all expenses spent working on your case. Only when we win for you will you need to pay us. If we don't win, then you owe us nothing.

Contact us online now or call us 24 hours a day toll free on 1-800-354-MARK (1-800-345-6-275). You can also call us locally in Fort Worth on 817-294-1900 or in Dallas on 214-327-8000.

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