When car accidents happen, they often leave drivers, passengers, pedestrians or others with serious and life-altering injuries. In fact, in 2019 alone, there were nearly 2 million injury-causing crashes on U.S. roadways. This number was the second-highest of the decade.
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury in a motor vehicle accident, your paramount concern may be working with an insurance company to settle your claim. After all, you may have piles of medical bills you cannot begin to pay. Still, for at least three reasons, you may not want to sign a blanket medical authorization in exchange for fast-tracking your insurance claim.
1. You may reveal too much information
A blanket medical authorization allows an insurer to review all your medical records, including the ones that have no relationship to the car accident or your injuries. If you feel uneasy about revealing too much private information, executing a blanket medical authorization may be a bad idea.
2. You may give the insurance company an excuse
Insurance adjusters often look for reasons to deny car accident claims. If they cannot find sufficient reason to do so, they may locate something to lower your settlement offer. Either way, if your medical file includes a preexisting condition or something else of concern to the adjuster, your claim may not end favorably.
3. Your insurance premiums may increase
You may expect to pay higher insurance premiums after filing a claim. If your medical history reveals something concerning to the insurance company, though, your premiums may skyrocket. Even worse, your insurer may use your medical records to drop your coverage.
Ultimately, before signing a blanket medical authorization, you must be certain your actions are in your legal and financial interests.