When people file for long-term disability(LTD) benefits in Pickering they find out it’s harder than they thought. We have helped many people who thought their insurance company would help them because they paid for it but ran into problems at every turn. Not being able to work due to a serious health problem is hard enough but when the financial help you were counting on is taken away it gets even harder. We at Longo Lawyers know how frustrating and stressful it can be to fight for benefits while dealing with an illness or injury. That’s why we work so hard to help you get the support your policy promises. 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 protect your income if you can’t work due to health problems. Unfortunately insurance companies don’t always make it easy to get these benefits. They hire groups of adjusters, lawyers and medical reviewers whose job is to protect the company’s money and keep payouts as low as possible. This isn’t fair because you have to fight for your rights while dealing with a serious health problem. We make it fair by using our experience and knowledge to make sure your insurance company keeps its promises and you are treated fairly throughout the process. Restaurant and bar liability involves the legal responsibility establishments hold for injuries, accidents, or damages that occur on their premises or as a result of their service, such as over-serving alcohol or maintaining unsafe conditions.
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. You need to be unable to do any job or just your own job to get own occupation coverage. Some policies limit benefits to a certain time period for certain conditions especially mental health issues. We review your policy to find out exactly what it covers and what you need to show. This helps us figure out the best way to build and present your claim.
Medical records are the most important part of any disability claim but most people don’t know that insurance companies want a lot more information. 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 healthcare providers to get all the medical evidence you need to answer all the questions your insurance company will ask. This often includes evaluations of your functional capacity, assessments by specialists and detailed reports that clearly link your medical condition to your inability to do your job.
When someone is injured by a defective product and ends up with a long-term disability the case needs to be thoroughly documented to show how the product caused the disability. Insurance companies may admit you were injured but later say you should have healed or that your ongoing symptoms have nothing to do with the original incident. We get updated medical reports, expert opinions and sometimes engineering assessments that show how the product failure caused your disability. These show the real effects of your condition. This comprehensive approach proves your disability is real and not just a temporary problem.
There is a lot of paperwork and strict deadlines that must be met without exception when you apply for long-term disability benefits. Forms ask for a lot of information about your job duties, medical condition and how your limitations keep you from working. If you make small mistakes or don’t answer all the questions you could be denied benefits or have to wait a long time to get them. We help with the whole application process to make sure everything is correct and complete. This includes helping you clearly explain your job duties, your limitations and how to submit all of your paperwork on time and in the right format. A strong first application makes it more likely you will be approved and less likely you will have problems later on.
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 make decisions that often go against what the doctors who actually treat you and know your case well say. We challenge these unfair reviews by pointing out their flaws and stressing the credibility and direct knowledge of your treating doctors.
There are strict time limits for the appeals process that can’t be changed for any reason. Most policies only give you 30 to 90 days to file an appeal after being denied. If you miss this deadline you can never challenge the decision again. We make sure appeals are filed quickly and include strong arguments that address each reason given for the denial. To win an appeal you need to provide more evidence, fix any mistakes in the original application and make legal arguments that show you are entitled to benefits under the terms of your policy.
Many disability claims in Pickering are for conditions that can’t be measured with objective tests. Insurance companies question the subjective symptoms that people with chronic pain syndromes, fatigue disorders, cognitive impairments and mental health conditions have. They may 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 backs up 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 may 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 is still open, your financial stress gets worse. During this tough time the cost of hiring a lawyer may seem like an extra burden you can’t handle. We work on long-term disability cases on a contingency fee basis which means you don’t pay us anything unless we 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. You should know what’s going on at every step of the legal process even if it’s hard to understand. We use plain language to explain what’s happening and we’re always here to answer your questions. You should never be unsure about where your case is or what will happen next. Regular updates and honest explanations can help ease anxiety during a time that’s already stressful.
Your doctors are key to your claim but they may not know 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 additional exams or setting up additional exams that provide objective evidence to support your disability claim and strengthen your case.