If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Colorado, you may be contacted by the other
driver’s insurance company asking you to sign a medical release. At first glance, this may
seem like a routine part of the process. After all, how can they evaluate your claim without
reviewing your injuries? But before you sign anything, it’s important to understand what
you’re really agreeing to—and the potential consequences of signing that form.
What Is A Medical Release?
A medical release is a form that authorizes the insurance company to obtain your medical
records. Sometimes these releases are narrowly tailored, but more often, they are broad
and may give the insurer access to your entire medical history, not just the records related
to your accident.
Why The Insurance Company Wants The Medical Release?
Keep in mind that the other driver’s insurance is not seeking to help you recover, they are
seeking to limit their insured’s financial exposure. By reviewing your medical history, they
may try to:
- Find pre-existing conditions they can blame for your current injuries.
- Minimize the severity of your injuries by pointing to past complaints of pain or unrelated
medical issues. - Look for gaps in treatment or reasons to argue that your injuries weren’t caused by the
accident.
In many cases, the release is a tool the insurance company will use to undermine your claim.
When It Makes Sense To Sign A Medical Release
There are situations where signing a medical release can make sense:
- You’ve already consulted with a personal injury attorney, and they advise you to sign a limited release that only covers treatment related to the accident.
- The records you’re authorizing are from a specific provider or date range, and you have nothing to hide that could impact your claim.
- You’re trying to move the claim along quickly, and providing select records could encourage a timely settlement.
But even in those situations, you should not sign anything without fully understanding what you’re releasing.
Why You Should Be Cautious
- Overbroad releases may give the insurance company access to decades of private medical information—including mental health history, unrelated surgeries, or even OB/GYN visits.
- Once you sign, you lose control over what they see and how they interpret it.
- Signing the release too early can undermine the value of your claim, especially if your
medical treatment is still ongoing and the full extent of your injuries isn’t yet known.
Bottom Line – Talk To A Lawyer First
Insurance companies are not on your side. Their goal is to pay as little as possible, and a
medical release is one way they attempt to do that.
If you’ve been asked to sign a medical release after an accident, do not sign it until you’ve
spoken with an experienced personal injury attorney. A Colorado personal injury lawyer
can help you determine whether signing the release is necessary, and if so, how to limit it to
protect your rights and privacy.
At Aguero Law, PC, we guide injury victims through every step of the recovery process.
Contact us today for a free consultation—and make sure you’re not giving away more than
you should.