713-225-5050 
Suffering an injury is overwhelming enough. What happens afterward can have a significant impact on your financial recovery. One of the most common mistakes injured people make is signing a medical release form without consulting a lawyer. Although it may seem routine, this document can provide the insurer with access to your complete medical history. That can work against you in ways you might not expect.
At the Houston personal injury law firm of Charles J. Argento, we help injured Texans understand how to protect themselves from insurance company tactics. That includes knowing what not to sign without legal advice.
What Is a Medical Release and Why Do Insurers Want It?
After an injury, insurance companies often request that you sign a medical authorization form. They may claim this is required to verify your injuries or process your claim more quickly. In reality, the form often allows them to access years of unrelated medical records.
Their goal is not to help you. It is to find information they can use to deny, delay, or reduce your compensation.
How Signing a Release Can Hurt Your Case
Medical records can include more than just your treatment after the injury. Once you authorize access, the insurance company may review years of history to identify any information that could be used against you.
This could include:
- Evidence of old injuries that they claim caused your current pain.
- Notes from doctors about mental health that they use to downplay emotional distress.
- Lab results or test records that are unrelated but misrepresented to weaken your case.
Even if these arguments are incorrect or misleading, they can still create enough doubt to lower your settlement or lead to a denied claim.
Speak with a Lawyer Before Signing Anything
If you are injured and asked to sign a medical release, talk to an attorney first. At Charles J. Argento’s Houston office, we review all insurance documents before our clients sign anything. We only allow the release of medical records that are relevant to the case. That helps protect your privacy and keeps the insurance company from misusing your information.
We work to ensure:
- Only injury-related records are disclosed.
- The insurance company does not gain unnecessary access.
- Your claim stays strong and is supported by the proper medical evidence.
You do not have to navigate this alone. We are here to help.
Contact Our Houston Personal Injury Lawyer Today for Guidance
Do not risk compromising your health or financial recovery by granting the insurance company excessive access. If you have already signed a release or are being pressured to do so, contact Charles J. Argento at (713) 225-5050 or online for a free consultation. We will help you understand your rights and take steps to protect your claim from the start.
