Long-Term Disability Lawyer Serving Shrewsbury, MA
When you develop a debilitating condition that prevents you from working, you must consider filing for long-term disability (LTD) benefits. This process is often complex and burdensome; however, it is not something you must do alone.
Whether you are filing an initial claim or appealing a denial of your benefits, a long-term disability lawyer serving Shrewsbury, MA from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick is ready to assist you. Call us today at 800-544-9144 for a free consultation.
Contacting a Shrewsbury Long-Term Disability Attorney is Beneficial for Your Claim
The disability rate in Shrewsbury, MA from 2015 to 2019 was 4.7 percent. While it is possible to file your claim on your own, it is beneficial to contact a long-term disability lawyer to help you through the process.
The LTD process can quickly become complex, as there are a multitude of deadlines and rules that must be followed to receive an approval. For example, if a claimant misses a single deadline, it can result in the denial of their claim. If a deadline is missed during the administrative appeal stage, the claim would go to litigation. Additionally, when a claimant has a group policy governed by ERISA, litigation can seem impossible to overcome.
ERISA law governs group policies which are given through a claimant’s employer. Under ERISA law, new evidence may not be submitted to the insurance company after the appeal stage. Therefore, during litigation, a claimant may not present any new information to prove their claim. A long-term disability attorney understands these complexities and knows how to navigate them.
A long-term disability insurance attorney can thoroughly review your LTD policy. Every policy has a definition of disability. This definition is what a claimant must prove to receive their benefits. An LTD attorney will determine, based on this definition, what evidence to collect to reinforce the claim.
Moreover, our legal team will meticulously track all deadlines to ensure that nothing is missed. We do not want you to worry about deadlines or evidence – we will take care of these aspects of your claim so that you may focus on managing your health.
CCK Can Gather the Best Evidence to Reinforce Your Claim
Medical records are usually the primary source of evidence a claimant submits to the insurance company. However, these records are normally not enough to win a claim. Supplemental evidence is often needed to reinforce a claim and demonstrate why LTD benefits are necessary. CCK utilizes a variety of supplemental evidence to bolster claims, such as:
- Specialized reports from treating physicians: Your treating physicians can provide insights into your condition that ordinary medical records do not. Maintaining an open dialogue about your condition is important. These specialized reports can illustrate just how far-reaching and detrimental your condition is and why it warrants an approval of benefits.
- Witness statements from family, friends, and coworkers: Official testimonies from the people who witness your condition each day is important for your claim. These statements strengthen your claim because they corroborate how debilitating your condition is. Witness statements from family and friends attest to how your condition affects you in private, while similar statements from coworkers vouch for how your condition affects you at your job.
- Outside expert opinions: Additional evaluations from outside experts is key in proving your disability. Often, insurance companies use independent medical exams (IMEs) to gain additional information on the claimant’s condition; however, these IMEs are biased because the doctors who administer them are paid by the insurance company. Obtaining your own outside experts to conduct evaluations and assessments on your condition is important. These outside experts provide objective, third-party evidence through functional capacity, neurophysiological, and vocational evaluations.
Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick Can Alleviate the Stress of Dealing with the Insurance Company
Dealing with insurance companies is stressful. While these companies should handle each case fairly, they often do not. Unfortunately, insurance companies are more worried about their bottom line than the health of their clients. Therefore, if they can find a way to not pay claimants, they will. Consequently, this leads to wrongful denials of claims.
Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick understand the difficulties that arise from corresponding with insurance companies. Our team has over 30 years of collective experience dealing with such companies and know how they operate. We will hold them accountable and ensure that your case is handled fairly.
Insurance companies often contact claimants persistently. We act as a point of contact between you and your insurance company so you never have to directly deal with them. Moreover, we will track all deadlines and ensure that the insurance company receives everything on time.
When an insurance company approves a claim or appeal, they may still request updated documentation and evidence. If a claimant were to miss these requests for information, their insurer could terminate their long-term disability benefits. CCK can continue to represent you after you receive your benefits to ensure that you retain them.
Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation
A debilitating medical condition can make it impossible to work. When this happens, you must consider filing for long-term disability benefits. Moreover, if your initial claim was denied, you have the right to appeal.
Wherever you are in the LTD process, a long-term disability lawyer serving Shrewsbury, MA is ready to help. Call us today at 800-544-9144 for a free consultation to see how we may be able to assist you.
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