If you drive frequently, you have undoubtedly seen dozens of distracted drivers. After all, distracted driving remains a common and deadly problem on roadways across the country. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving killed more than 3,000 Americans in 2020 alone.
If a distracted driver has crashed into your vehicle and caused you to suffer a catastrophic injury, you may hate going to the mailbox. That is, every day you may receive medical bills you are incapable of paying. Ensuring you receive prompt processing of your insurance claim is surely one of your top priorities.
The insurance company’s bottom line
It is not uncommon for insurance adjusters to bargain with claim processing times. Specifically, the adjuster may promise to process your claim quickly in exchange for your signing a general medical release. Before you put pen to paper, though, you should keep the insurance company’s bottom line in mind.
Put simply, most insurance companies make money by keeping their settlements as low as possible. When you sign a blanket medical authorization, you give the insurance company access to your entire medical history. If this history has something the insurance company can use against you, you can expect the company to jump on the opportunity.
Your insurance settlement
You deserve to receive fair compensation for the injuries you have sustained due to someone else’s distracted driving. Ultimately, because you do not want to do anything to cause a low settlement offer or even the outright denial of your claim, it is imperative to understand all the possible consequences that come with signing any insurance form.