The Benefits of Hiring a Disability Insurance Lawyer for Your Claim
Trying to get disability coverage for an injury can be challenging, so it is crucial for claimants to make sure they have the right help. When it’s time to file a claim for disability insurance, it is a good idea to work with a lawyer, even though it is not required. If a person does file on their own and the claim is denied, they do have the option of working with a lawyer moving forward to help them get approval. Some of the benefits of hiring a disability insurance lawyer include the following.
Get Help Filing the Initial Claim
Filing a disability insurance claim must be done carefully, as mistakes can lead to a claim being denied. When someone is ready to file the claim, it is beneficial to work with disability insurance lawyers. They can review the person’s injuries, evidence, and more, then help with filing the claim to make sure everything is done right and ready to go to the insurance company. This can help to reduce the potential for the claim to be denied initially, and, if the claim is denied, the lawyer can immediately start working on the next steps to help their client.
Help Understanding a Claim Denial
Most of the time, insurance companies will try to deny the initial claim to avoid having to pay out. A lawyer can help to review the reason for the denial and help their client file an appeal to try to reverse this decision. Some of the reasons why a claim can be denied include the following.
- Case Doesn’t Meet Policy Definitions – The person’s injuries may not qualify for disability under the insurance policy or the person is working another job and, therefore, is not considered sufficiently injured to merit a disability claim.
- Pre-Existing or Disqualifying Conditions – If the injured person has pre-existing or disqualifying conditions, the claim can be denied based on those factors.
- Insufficient Medical Evidence – The claimant must have medical evidence of the injuries and their treatment. Without sufficient evidence, the claim can be denied. This is often more than the initial medical treatment, as evidence should show the continued care the person is receiving.
- Lack of Continuous Treatment – If the person misses appointments or doesn’t continue their treatment as needed, they can have the claim denied.
- Missed Deadlines – Missing deadlines and not filing on time are one of the most common reasons a claim could be denied. It is crucial for claimants to make sure they meet all deadlines.
- Unclear Evidence – If the evidence doesn’t show how the injury occurred or what is required for the individual to fully recover, the insurance company may deny the claim. All evidence should be clear and show exactly what injuries the person is suffering from.
- Social Media Activity – Insurance companies use social media activityto deny claims. If they see the person doing things that shouldn’t be possible with the injuries received, they may use that to show the claim was fraudulent and deny it.
Understanding Legal Procedures
Legal procedures and how everything in the legal system works can be confusing for those who do not have a lot of experience with it. A disability insurance lawyer understands the legal procedures, so they can make sure everything is done properly. They can also help explain everything to the claimant, so the claimant understands what is happening with their case and what should happen moving forward. This can help make the process less stressful, because the claimant will know what to expect.
Make Sure Deadlines are Followed
Deadlines are all too easy to overlook, especially when someone is recovering from injuries. Yet, missing deadlines can lead to a claim being denied, and it may be hard or impossible to appeal the claim for this reason, and have it approved. When a claimant works with a disability insurance lawyer, the lawyer will make sure all deadlines are met to avoid any potential issues. This helps to keep the case moving forward and can reduce the potential for the claim to be denied. Claimants will want to make sure they work closely with the lawyer to ensure all deadlines are met and that everything needed for the claim is available before the deadline to file the initial claim or an appeal.
Negotiate with Insurance Companies
It may be necessary to negotiate with the insurance companies, as they will want to pay out the smallest amount possible if they do approve the claim. For those who need funds to recover while they’re injured and unable to work, this is challenging, because they need the money they would have otherwise made while working plus the funds to cover medical bills and other related expenses to help them recover. A skilled disability insurance lawyer knows how to negotiate with insurance companies to make sure the amount the claimant receives will be sufficient to cover all of the injury-related expenses, including the pay for the period they can’t work.
Filing a Lawsuit
In some cases, even after an appeal, the claimant is denied disability insurance payments or a settlement. When this happens, they do have one more option to try, which is filing a lawsuit. If this is necessary, it can take some time to conclude, so the claimant will want to work closely with their lawyer. The lawyer will work to file the claim with the court system and make sure there is sufficient evidence. The case can then go in front of a judge and they will decide whether the claimant can get the money they need for their recovery.
If you’re injured and need to file a disability claim, it’s a good idea to speak with a lawyer right away so they can help you. There is a lot they can do to help increase the potential for your claim to be approved and for you to get the funds needed while you recover. Schedule a consultation with a disability insurance lawyer today to learn more about what they can do to help.
