Even though traffic fatalities are comparatively rare, motor vehicle accidents often leave drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and others with serious injuries. In fact, the Association for Safe International Road Travel estimates roughly 4.4 million individuals require emergency medical care for crash-related injuries annually.
The aftermath of a car accident can be a scary and painful time, especially if you are having trouble paying medical bills. While an insurance adjuster may claim a blanket medical authorization is necessary for processing your claim, executing one may complicate matters considerably.
What is Blanket Medical Authorization?
A blanket medical authorization is an insurance form that gives an insurer the right to examine all your medical records. These may include private details that have little or nothing to do with your injuries or accident claim.
Why May Signing a Blanket Medical Authorization Be a Mistake?
Signing a blanket medical authorization may be a mistake for the following reasons:
The authorization may effectively waive your medical privacy rights.
The authorization may give an adjuster an excuse to deny your claim.
The authorization may result in an unreasonably low settlement offer.
What Alternatives Do You Have?
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury in a motor vehicle accident, insurance adjusters are likely to need some information about your injury and your medical past. They probably do not need to know about every medical appointment you have ever attended, every procedure you have ever had, or every prescription you have ever taken, though.
There are ways to deliver medical records to insurance adjusters without endangering your accident claim, of course. Ultimately, before you sign anything, it is critical to understand all potential advantages and consequences of your actions.
Don't hesitate to reach out to Shay + Associates Law Firm if you require the expertise of a skilled personal injury lawyer in Springfield or Decatur, Illinois.