How it works
How records requests work after an accident and what we do for you.
A records request is simple on paper and slow in practice. This is the whole process, including the parts we take off your plate.
Records education is available. Accident case evaluation, settlement estimates, and legal representation are not offered here.
On the record
The facts worth knowing
- 01
A provider generally has 30 calendar days to act on your written request, and may take one 30-day extension if it tells you why in writing. Some state laws are shorter; none let a provider refuse because an insurer or lawyer is involved.[1]
- 02
Providers may charge only a reasonable, cost-based fee for copies, and must give you an electronic copy if the records are kept electronically and you ask for that format.[2]
- 03
You can have the records sent directly to a third party you name, such as your attorney or an insurer, with a signed written request. You can also get them yourself first and decide who sees them.[1]
The guide
What to do, in order
1. You tell us who treated you
Each hospital, clinic or imaging center is a separate request. You give us the provider, the dates, and who should receive the records.
2. You sign one authorization
A HIPAA-compliant request in your name, naming the recipient. That is what gives the provider the legal basis to release your records.
3. We send it and follow up
We submit the request the way that provider actually accepts it, confirm receipt, and check in as the 30-day window runs. Every verified update is posted to your request page.
4. You get the records
Delivered securely to you, or to the attorney or insurer you named. You can review them for gaps and ask us to go back for anything missing.
What we can't control
Providers decide how fast records come back; the law gives them up to 30 days and one extension. We won't promise a date we can't verify, and we'll tell you the moment anything changes.
Your checklist
What you'll need to start
- 01
The name and city of each provider who treated you.
- 02
Approximate dates of treatment.
- 03
A photo ID to match the authorization.
- 04
Who should receive the records: you, an attorney, or an insurer.
We send the request, follow up with the provider, and deliver the records to you. Your provider decides how fast they come back; the law gives them up to 30 days, and we post every verified update.
Questions people ask
Straight answers, with sources
How long does it take to get records after an accident?
Under HIPAA a provider has up to 30 days from your written request, with one possible 30-day extension explained in writing. Many respond faster; some state laws require it. We follow up with each provider and post every verified update.[1]
Can I get the records in electronic form?
Yes. If a provider keeps records electronically you can ask for an electronic copy in the form you request, if it is readily producible, and you may be charged only a reasonable cost-based fee.[2]
Will MedicalRecords.com evaluate my accident case?
No. We don't evaluate claims, estimate what a case is worth, or refer you to a lawyer. We request your records from any provider, chase them, and deliver them securely to you or to someone you name.[1]
Sources
Where this page comes from
Primary sources only. Each entry says what the source itself states. This is reference material, not legal or medical advice, and the cited guidance controls its own scope and exceptions.
- [1]Individuals' Right under HIPAA to Access their Health Information
HHS Office for Civil Rights · hhs.gov
Covered providers and plans generally must act on an access request within 30 calendar days, may take one 30-day extension if they tell you why in writing, may charge only a reasonable cost-based fee, and must send a copy to a third party you name in a signed written request.
- [2]45 CFR 164.524 Access of individuals to protected health information
eCFR (U.S. Government Publishing Office) · ecfr.gov
The regulation behind the right of access: what must be provided, in what form, within what time, and what may be charged.
- [3]Your Medical Records
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services · hhs.gov
HIPAA gives you the right to see and get copies of your medical and billing records held by covered providers and health plans, with limited exceptions such as psychotherapy notes.