The insurance company has sent me a medical authorization, should I sign it?

A: It is best not to sign anything until you have had a chance to meet with an Austin injury lawyer. The insurance company adjustor will act like he is doing you a favor by obtaining all your medical records at no cost to you. But the medical authorization will also allow them to access your other medical records that are not related to the accident. What they are looking for is any reason to deny your claim, or at least minimize the value of your claim. If you have a shoulder injury and they find a note from a doctor's office that you complained of pain in that same shoulder five years ago, you now have a pre-existing injury. You may not even remember telling the doctor about your shoulder or remember you ever had any shoulder pain before your accident, but that information will be used against you. Most attorneys would not allow their clients to sign a medical authorization from the insurance company. Let your accident lawyer get your medical records; he will provide only the relevant ones to the insurance company.