Are you suffering from a medical condition or injury that’s interfering with your ability to work?
A serious disability often leaves people feeling helpless, but you’re not alone. About 8 million adults in the U.S. have some type of disability that limits or prevents them from working.
No matter your situation, working with a long-term disability (LTD) insurance lawyer can help you fight the legal battles ahead.
What can a long-term disability (LTD) lawyer do for me?
Some people are hesitant to seek professional legal help because they think it’s time-consuming and expensive. They also believe nobody knows their medical situation and disability better than they do – and they’re right about that. But understanding how your medical condition or injury impacts your ability to work is only half the battle. You also need someone who knows disability insurance law, and how disability insurance companies work.
So, in reality, a lawyer can save you time and money in the end. Disability lawyers have the experience dealing with disability insurance companies, and they know how to get you the money you need.
If you’re still not convinced, here are five signs it’s time to find a long-term disability lawyer:
- Your claim has recently been denied.
Has your disability claim recently been denied? Don’t worry, you’re not at the end of the road yet. If you bought your insurance through a group plan at work, odds are the insurance company must allow you at least one administrative appeal of that denial.
BUT DO NOT TRY TO DO THIS ALONE.
Again, you probably know your condition better than anyone, but when you appeal a denial of disability insurance benefits you absolutely need an experienced lawyer to help you with the process. An experienced disability lawyer will likely already familiar with the insurance company you’re up against, and has probably already read some version of the insurance policy dozens, if not hundreds of times before. He or she will also know just what kind of medical and vocational documentation you need to prove your claim to the insurance company. Many people think it’s just a matter of having their doctor writing a letter stating that they are “100%” or “completely”, or “totally and permanently disabled”. Unfortunately, it’s rarely that simple. You have to be able to explain, and prove, to the insurance company how your medical conditions or injuries prevent you from performing your job duties, as well as day-to-day activities, like housework, yard work, and shopping.
A good disability insurance lawyer knows all of this and can help you get the benefits you need and have paid for.
- You’ve been representing yourself.
See number 1, above! Seriously, tough, one reason your claim might have been denied is because you’re representing yourself. Navigating the world of long-term disability claims is extremely tricky. You need a lawyer on your side who has years of experience with disability insurance cases. So, if you’re getting nowhere with the insurance company handling the claim on your own, it’s time to seek out help, preferably before the insurance company denies your appeal. If you’ve already done your appeal, but the insurance company hasn’t made a decision yet, it’s not too late to get an attorney to represent you. A good disability insurance attorney will know what to look for in your claim file and figure out what is missing to prove your claim. He or she will also know how to get that information and get the insurance company to accept it, even if you have already filed your appeal.
Even if the insurance company already denied your appeal, it still may not be too late. Some insurance policies allow more than one appeal. So, if you weren’t successful the first time around on your own, you should absolutely talk to a disability insurance attorney before your take any additional action on your claim. An experienced disability insurance lawyer will be able to tell you if you can file another appeal, and how to maximize the chances of being successful.
But if you did the appeals yourself, without success, you should still contact a lawyer to explore the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the insurance company. A good disability insurance attorney will know exactly how to do this. For example: he or she will know whether your case is governed by federal law or state insurance law, which court to file in to maximize your odds of prevailing, and he or she will be familiar with the particular insurance company’s tactics and how to effectively fight back.
Whatever you do, don’t wait. There are strict deadlines for doing appeals and filing suit. The last thing you want to do is miss one of those deadlines. So, the sooner you contact a disability insurance lawyer, the better.
- You’re not able to work.
If you’re unable to work, it’s time to seek professional guidance. This is especially true if you have a family to support. Unfortunately, people suffering from a disabling condition will often have higher medical bills and other expenses like having to hire a housekeeper, or someone to mow the lawn. This is the worst possible time for an insurance company to deny or cut-off your LTD benefits. If this has happened to you, a good LTD lawyer can help you prove that you’re unable to work and get you the benefits you need to maintain your standard of life.
- You feel hopeless.
It’s easy to feel hopeless when you’re disabled, unable to work and trying to fight an insurance company to get the LTD benefits on your own can be overwhelming. If you start to feel like the battle is hopeless, this is how you know it’s time to ask for help and bring a lawyer onto your team. No one should feel hopeless about his or her situation when legal help is available.
Are you ready to get started with a long-term disability lawyer? Our team of expert disability lawyers are here to help you fight for what you deserve. Visit our frequently asked questions page for more information on what we can do for you.
We offer free consultations on all disability cases, so don’t hesitate to contact us today.
