Getting long term disability(LTD) in Newmarket is tough because the system is so complicated and seems to be designed to keep people from making legitimate claims. We have helped many people who thought their insurance company would help them with what they paid for but were denied or met with resistance. It’s even harder to deal with not being able to work because of a serious health issue when the financial help you were counting on is taken away. Personal Injury Lawyer Fabio Longo is dedicated to helping clients recover the compensation they deserve with professionalism, integrity, and proven results.
Long term disability insurance is there to help you pay your bills when you can’t work because of an illness or injury. Unfortunately insurance companies don’t always make it easy to get these benefits. They hire teams of adjusters, lawyers and medical reviewers whose job is to keep costs down and protect the company’s profits. This is unfair because you have to fight for your rights while dealing with a serious health issue. We use our experience and knowledge to make sure your insurance company does what it says it will do and you are treated fairly throughout the process.
To make a successful claim you need to know exactly what your disability policy says. The definitions and exclusions in these contracts have a big impact on whether you can get benefits and how long those benefits last. If you have own occupation coverage you only need to be unable to do your own job. If you have any occupation coverage you need to be unable to do any job. Some policies limit benefits to 24 months for certain conditions especially mental health problems. We read your policy to find out exactly what it covers and what you need to show. This helps us decide how to build and present your claim.
Medical records are the most important part of any disability claim but insurance companies need a lot more information than most people think. Your doctor may think you are disabled but that opinion alone is not enough for most insurance companies. They want detailed reports that explain your diagnosis, treatment history, current symptoms, functional limitations and how these things stop you from working in a specific way. We help you work with your doctors to get all the medical evidence you need to answer all the questions your insurance company will have. This usually means functional capacity evaluations, specialist evaluations and detailed reports that make a clear link between your medical condition and your inability to work.
When an injury prevents someone from going back to work, cases involving accident benefits often overlap with long term disability claims. When there is more than one insurance policy involved, each with its own set of rules and deadlines, things get even more complicated. We help you sort through these overlapping claims so you get all the benefits you are entitled to under each policy. It takes experience and attention to detail to work with different insurance companies and know how one claim affects another.
There is a lot of paperwork and strict deadlines to meet when applying for long term disability benefits. Forms require a lot of information about your job duties, your medical condition and how your limitations prevent you from working. If you make small mistakes or don’t answer all the questions you could be denied or have to wait a long time to get benefits. We help with the whole application process to make sure everything is correct and complete. This includes helping you describe your job duties in detail, making sure you understand your limitations and sending in all the paperwork in the right format and on time. A strong first application increases your chances of getting approved and reduces the chance of problems later.
Most people don’t expect denials to happen as often as they do, even for claims that seem valid and well documented. Insurance companies give many reasons for denying benefits such as not having enough medical evidence or disagreeing with your doctors. A lot of denials happen because doctors hired by the insurance company review your files but never see you in person. These reviewers look at your medical records from afar and often come to conclusions that are different from what the doctors who are treating you and know your case say. We challenge these unfair reviews by pointing out their flaws and emphasizing the credibility and firsthand knowledge of your doctors.
There are strict time limits for the appeals process that can’t be changed. If you get a denial most policies only give you 30 to 90 days to file an appeal. If you miss this deadline you lose your right to challenge the decision. We make sure appeals are filed quickly and include strong arguments that address each reason for the denial. To win an appeal you need to show more evidence, fix any mistakes in the original application and make legal arguments that you are entitled to benefits under the specific terms of your policy.
Many disability claims in Newmarket are for conditions that can’t be tested objectively. Insurance companies often question the subjective symptoms that people with chronic pain syndromes, fatigue disorders, cognitive impairments and mental health conditions have. They might say your symptoms are worse than they really are or that you could work if you tried harder. We have developed ways to present these cases using detailed symptom journals, testimony from family and coworkers that supports your condition and medical opinions that prove your condition is real. Even if imaging or lab tests can’t prove it, your disability is real.
Insurance investigators often use surveillance as a way to find evidence that goes against what you say your limitations are. Companies might hire people to follow you around, film what you do in public and look at your social media accounts. This feels intrusive and makes it seem like you’re being treated like a liar instead of someone who needs help. We help you understand that having a disability doesn’t mean you can’t do certain things. You can’t work full-time just because you go to the doctor, buy groceries or go to family events. We make sure any surveillance footage is clearly explained and not twisted to make it look like you’ve gotten better.
When you can’t work and your disability claim isn’t settled your financial stress gets worse. It may seem like hiring a lawyer is just one more thing you can’t handle. We only charge you legal fees if we win your long term disability case and get you benefits. This way everyone can get good legal help no matter how much money they have right now. Our interests are completely aligned with yours because we can only do well if you do.
We want to make sure you can talk to us throughout your case. The law can be complicated and you have the right to know what’s going on every step of the way. We use simple language to explain what’s happening and we’re always here to answer your questions. You should never be unsure about the status of your case or what will happen next. Regular updates and honest explanations can help ease anxiety during a already stressful time.
Your treating doctors are key to your claim but they may need help figuring out what information insurance companies need. Instead of writing down your disability for insurance purposes, doctors focus on treating your condition. We work with your doctors to make sure reports include specific information about your limitations, work restrictions and prognosis. This may mean asking for extra assessments or setting up more evaluations to provide objective evidence to support your disability claim.