WHAT SHOULD I DO IF THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER ASKS FOR MY MEDICAL RECORDS?

Posted on Wednesday, August 17th, 2016 at 2:07 am    

Have you been injured in an accident? Is the insurance adjuster asking you to sign a medical release so he can obtain copies of your medical records? If so, you need to contact our office before signing any releases or providing any further information to the insurance adjuster. Regardless of how nice the insurance adjuster may be or how many times the insurance adjuster tells you he is looking out for you, the adjuster is NOT working for you. He does not have your best interest as his top priority.

You deserve someone working for you that will protect your right to receive a fair settlement for your injuries. Call the Sacramento personal injury attorneys of the Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 for a free consultation. We do not charge for your first visit because we want you to have the ability to obtain experienced, trusted legal counsel from an attorney who only has your best interest as his top priority.

Why Does The Insurance Adjuster Want My Medical Records?

The insurance adjuster will probably tell you he needs copies of your medical records to verify your injuries before you can receive compensation from the insurance company. This may be true; however, many adjusters have other reasons for asking you to sign a medical release. It is true, the insurance company will require you to provide copies of medical records to verify the extent of your injuries and to prove your injuries resulted from the accident.  However, the request should be limited to medical records that relate directly to the accident.

Some insurance adjusters present accident victims with a medical release that does not limit the time frame of the medical records. Therefore, the adjuster can obtain copies of your entire medical history. The main reason an insurance company wants access to all of your medical records is to limit its liability and reduce your settlement amount. If the insurance company can find a pre-exiting condition, it may try to allege your current injuries are not related to the accident.

This is a common practice for some insurance companies. An experienced personal injury attorney reviews each request for medical records to ensure it is a valid request.  Having someone in your corner who understands how personal injury claims are processed by insurance companies can protect you from unfair practices that can reduce your settlement amount.

Independent Medical Exams

If you do not have an attorney, an adjuster may try to convince you that you must submit to an independent medical exam (IME) by a doctor chosen by the insurance company. For most accident victims, an IME is not required and it is not beneficial for the accident victim. The doctors who conduct IMEs are used over and over by insurance companies because the doctors usually disagree with the accident victim’s doctors. This is an attempt to raise doubt about your injuries to reduce the amount of money the insurance company must pay to settle your claim.

Before submitting to an IME, contact our office to discuss your legal rights and your options regarding your accident claim. Put the experience, skills, and resources of our law firm behind you.

Protect Your Right To A Fair Accident Settlement

Contact the Tiemann Law Firm by calling (916) 999-9000 or chat with a representative on our website to schedule a free case evaluation. Do not let an insurance adjuster or an insurance company take advantage of you. Let our attorneys protect your best interest!

Client Testimonials

Elizabeth Ochoa Testimonial
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I chose Tiemann Law Firm to help me after a car accident I was involved in. Throughout the entire process, Moe made sure to keep me updated, he always responded quickly whenever  I had questions about anything. My case won thanks to this law firm and its dedication. My experience with Tiemann Law Firm was amazing! 10/10 recommended.

Dawniel Ewing Testimonial
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I have nothing but great things to say about this firm. They have been extremely helpful and professional when dealing with my case. Anytime I needed anything or wanted to be updated they responded immediately. They made me feel like they cared. Highly recommend them!

Michael T. Testimonial
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I sat down and met with Jelena Tiemann about my vehicle accident.I presented all of my documentation to her in which she gave me her assessment.Although the Tiemann Law Firm wont be representing me because my settlement offer was pretty good she was very clear,forward and professional about what she felt could and couldn't be done.I recommend this law firm to anyone who needs a helping hand at fighting a case where you don't have to worry about the outcome not going in your favor. Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees.

Herb T. Testimonial
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The Tiemanns were referred to me by a friend and I am exceptionally happy with the service I received. I had never been in an accident before. I had no idea what to do. Jelena verbally explained how everything would work to me, and she and Peter handled everything. I didn't have to lift a finger once. They went above and beyond for me and I am extremely grateful. I pray I won't ever need this type of assistance again, but I will definitely be referring them to friends and family.

Jennifer T. Testimonial
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I highly recommend The Tiemann Law Firm! I had never before been in a situation where I sustained injury and had to seek legal representation. I was nervous, traumatized, and had no idea what to expect. Jelena, Peter, and their staff walked me through each step of the process. They explained everything in detail. They patiently answered all my questions, responded quickly to every email, text message, phone call, etc. I felt totally prepared for each new phase of the legal process. Furthermore, they were fearless in their defense of me. In certain situations, when I felt attacked or scared my attorney protected me like I was family. Their diligence, honesty, integrity, and compassion provided a true sense of healing and closure for my family and I. The Tiemann Law Firm accomplished more for me than I ever thought possible and I am forever grateful.

Hanna Padilla Testimonial
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From the very start of my case the Tiemann Law Firm was wonderful. Perter came all the way to my home to sit down and talk to me about my options. He made me and my partner feel very comfortable and promised us he would take the very best care of my case. Peter kept me informed every step of the way and was always on top of things. everything was done in a timely manor and I always felt like I was the only case he was working on because he was so fast. In the end Peter got me back way more money than I ever expected. I would recommend this law firm to everyone. I am very happy with the outcome of my case thanks to the Tiemann Law Firm! Thank you!

S.B. Testimonial
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Here's the thing... Nobody really thinks much about lawyers until they need one.  Well, we needed one!  The Tieman Law Firm came through for us in a big way. They were professional, courteous, thorough, and had excellent staff as well.  Highly recommended...

Star Fire Testimonial
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It is hard to put into words the care and dedication that I received from the Tiemann’s. They have been here for me every step of the way and were always available when I had questions or concerns. My husband and I will be forever grateful for everything they have done for us and our family. Thank you so much for all of the hard work and time you have put into my case, we greatly appreciate it and your friendship. We highly recommend this firm and will always be thankful for everything they have done. Thank you so much again, Kim

Jereme S. Testimonial
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No one wants to have to hire a lawyer, but if you do. I prefer Tiemann Law. They helped a family member who was injured on the job, and the company did not want to compensate him even though, the injury occurred on the job on company time. Jelena was always professional in explaining the lengthy process of fighting a large corporation. 2 years later he finally is receiving the deserved compensation.

Maye Ly Testimonial
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I just saw my lawyer Jelena Tiemann on a t.v ad, which reminded me how much she helped when I was in a desperate situation. I just love her! That is why I feel a need to tell everyone. I had a situation that happened & didn’t know what to do, our where to go. I didn’t even know if she could help me or if any lawyer could. All I wanted was it to go away & was afraid most lawyers wanted to drag it out & possibly go to court. For one she was very professional but was very personable (maybe b.c she’s a lady). She didn’t make me feel embarrassed or self-conscious that I did something wrong or was the cause of the situation. She immediately said we should try our best before going to court. Let me handle some paperwork, if at the last we do go to court we have documents. She gave me all the details, pros and cons but reassured me she deals with these cases all the time. She came through and made it as painless as possible. I now have my life back.

Matt H. Testimonial
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I was in a car accident a while back where I was injured and had to miss work for an extended period of time.  After nearly a year of fighting with the insurance company with no results and no progress, I met with Jelena Tiemann.  I couldn't have asked for a more responsive and supportive advocate.  We quickly reached a settlement and I finally was able to move from the stress and burden of feuding with my insurance.  I highly recommending meeting with Jelena if you're in need of a lawyer.

Jennifer Birdseye Testimonial
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Tiemann Law Firm helped us with an injury case for my nephew. They were very knowledgeable and we are very happy with the service they provided. The entire staff is topnotch!

Lendzey Garcia
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I was in a very bad/ major car accident I originally had an attorney who wasn’t trying to help me out much or take any of my calls so I called Tiemann and told them my situation. They made it an AWESOME and Smooth transition over to them and took on both cases I had. I just settled on my big case and am beyond great full. For them and their team! I highly recommend them. To add on to this a little On how much they will work with you, I moved to Montana in the middle of all Of this and it was not an issue!