Long-term disability benefits should help you pay your bills when a serious illness or injury keeps you from working. This is one of the best times in your life. Many people in Brantford have tried and failed to get help. People who have had their disability claims denied and are dealing with the stress of losing income while dealing with major health issues come to Longo Lawyers for help.
Most people get long-term disability insurance through their job as part of a group benefits plan. You’ve been paying these premiums for a while but haven’t thought much about the details until you had to file a claim. This insurance is simple: it will pay you part of your income if you’re too sick or hurt to work. Depending on your insurance, you could get 60 to 70% of your regular pay and these benefits could last for years or even until you retire in some cases. Cyclist and Pedestrian Accidents often involve serious injuries, making accountability and fair compensation essential.
Even though the idea is simple, actually getting disability benefits is hard and nasty. Insurance companies deny claims and the reasons are different every time. They might say your medical records don’t show you’re disabled according to the policy’s definition. They might admit you have a medical problem but say it doesn’t stop you from working in some way. They might send you to doctors who will find you able to work for independent medical exams. In other cases they’ll approve your claim at first but then stop paying you benefits months or years later and say your condition has improved or you now meet a stricter definition of disability.
The problem for many people is that insurance companies are businesses that want to make money. They have to pay valid claims by law but they also have a financial incentive to deny claims whenever they can find a reason to do so. This creates a Catch 22 that leaves those who are really disabled without the income replacement they paid for and need badly.
We help clients navigate this unfair system at Longo Lawyers. We start by carefully reviewing your policy to make sure we know exactly what you’re entitled to and what the insurance company has to prove or disprove. There are many types of disability policies and the wording of your policy is very important. Your right to benefits depends on the definition of disability, the elimination period, exclusions and other terms.
Every disability claim is based on medical evidence. Your doctors have to write down everything they know about your diagnosis, symptoms, how your condition affects your daily life and work, what treatments you’ve tried and what your prognosis is. Insurance companies use any perceived flaws in medical evidence as a reason to deny a claim. We help our clients make sure their doctors know what information has to be in the medical records and that those documents support the claim.
One of the problems we see a lot is that many regulations change the definition of impairment. In the first two years you just have to show you can’t do your job. After two years the definition changes to say you have to show you can’t do any job you’re qualified for based on your degree, training and experience. Insurance companies now have more freedom to deny claims and we see benefits end even when the person’s health hasn’t improved.
When your claim is denied timing is very important. There are strict time limits to appeal denials and go to court. If you miss these dates in Brantford or anywhere else in Ontario it could hurt your case or even take away all your options. Getting in touch with a lawyer who has worked on disability cases before is the best way to protect your rights when you get a refusal.
Many people who have already lost their jobs due to a disability are worried about how much it will cost to hire a lawyer. We only charge you legal fees if we win your long-term disability case and get you benefits. You don’t have to worry about paying upfront fees or legal bills when you’re already struggling with money. Our fee is a percentage of the benefits we get for you. Dog Bites claims help victims recover damages for medical treatment, scarring, and emotional distress.
When you don’t get disability benefits you can fight back by negotiating, making internal appeals with the insurance company or going to court. How you do it will depend on your situation. Some issues can be resolved through settlement talks but others need to be taken to court and possibly tried. No matter what happens with your case we’re here to get you the benefits you’re entitled to and help you through this tough time.
If your long-term disability claim has been denied or stopped in Brantford you don’t have to accept that decision without a fight. You have rights under the law and we’re here to help you get the money you need and deserve.