Should I Sign a Medical Authorization After an Injury Accident in Kansas City?

Don’t Sign the Insurance Company’s Forms After an Accident in Missouri or Kansas

After an accident in Missouri or Kansas, an insurance adjuster may contact you to discuss your injuries. The claims adjuster may ask you to make a statement and sign documents to process your claim.  STOP!  What you say and the documents you sign can significantly impact the outcome of your injury claim.

It is in your best interest to contact our personal injury attorney for Missouri or Kansas before dealing with an insurance company. You deserve fair compensation for your injuries and damages. However, that is not the insurance company’s goal.  Instead, its goal is to limit liability and damages so that it can save money on claims.

Were you injured in Missouri or Kansas, and do you have a question about a document or form the insurance company wants you sign?  We are here to help!  Call now to speak to a personal injury attorney at the Law Office of Kevin J. McManus. Our Kansas City personal injury lawyer provides free consultations, which means we will review your case free of charge. Call 816-203-0143 or contact us online.

Why Does the Insurance Company Want a Medical Authorization?

The claims adjuster may tell you that the company needs to verify your injuries to pay your claim. Therefore, it needs you to sign their medical authorization to obtain your medical records for the accident. This sounds reasonable because it is intended to convince people to sign the release for medical records.

But do you want the insurance company going through your entire medical history, even if it has no relevance to your injury or claim?  You shouldn’t!  But the medical release or authorization that many insurance companies use will allow them to do just that.

But this is more just being nosy. A common tactic used by many insurance companies is to blame your accident injuries on a pre-existing condition. The insurance company likely wants your medical records to look for any previous accidents, injuries, and health conditions.

The adjuster does not tell you that the authorization you sign gives the company access to your entire medical history. The company searches through your medical records looking for anything it can blame for your current injuries or condition.

Can I Recover Compensation After an Accident if I Had a Pre-Exiting Condition?

Under Missouri and Kansas law, if another party causes you injury or harm, the at-fault party may be responsible for damages including, but are not limited to:

• Physical, emotional, and mental pain and suffering
• Medical expenses for treatment and care
• Loss of enjoyment of life and reduced quality of life
• Personal care and long-term nursing care
• Loss of income and future earning potential
• Permanent impairments, disfigurement, and disabilities

If you have a pre-existing condition that worsens and requires medical care because of the accident, the at-fault party can be held liable for damages related to the aggravation of your condition.

For example, imagine a case in which a person with a prior back injury is involved in a car accident and suffers a spinal cord injury that results in paralysis. The prior back injury may have weakened the bones and made the person more likely to suffer a spinal cord injury in a crash. However, the accident victim would not have been paralyzed had it not been for the at-fault driver’s negligence. Therefore, the at-fault driver can be held liable for damages caused by the paralysis.

However, you have the burden of proving that the accident caused your condition to worsen, or that your injuries are not related to a prior condition or injury. That often requires expert medical testimony and evidence. Our Kansas City accident attorney can guide you through the process of obtaining opinions from your treating physicians or other medical experts.

What Should I Do After a Personal Injury Accident in Kansas City?

After an accident in Kansas City, you should always seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Delays in medical care can cause problems with your injury claim.

In addition, you should not make statements or sign medical authorizations without consulting with our personal injury lawyer in Kansas or Missouri. What you say and do in the days and weeks following your accident either help you win or cause you to lose your personal injury case.

Tell our lawyer about any pre-existing conditions and prior accidents or injuries. Trying to hide these things is never wise. Even if you do not sign a medical authorization, insurance companies have other ways of finding information. If you are caught in a lie, it can destroy your credibility and your personal injury case.

When you tell our personal injury attorney about pre-existing conditions, our firm can begin working to analyze and gather evidence proving that the accident caused your current condition. Our personal injury attorney cannot defend an issue unless aware of its existence.

Contact Our Kansas City Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation

If you are recovering from an injury accident in Missouri or Kansas, we understand that you may be dealing a great deal of stress from a traumatic experience. Don’t make the mistake of signing forms or authorizations without talking to our injury attorney first.

Our personal injury attorney in Kansas City is ready to handle all aspects of your case, including communications with the insurance company. We want you to focus on what is most important – your recovery and your family.

Contact our office to schedule your free consultation by calling 816-203-0143 or completing our online contact form. Our Kansas City personal injury lawyer represents clients in throughout Kansas and Missouri.