Long-Term Disability Lawyer Serving Old Tappan, NJ
When a medical condition impairs your ability to work, you must consider filing for long-term disability (LTD) benefits. These benefits can protect a percentage of your pre-disability earnings—usually between 60 and 80 percent—which can help you focus on what is most important: managing your condition. However, obtaining these benefits is often stressful and difficult. A long-term disability lawyer serving Old Tappan, NJ from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick is prepared to assist you.
The LTD process is a complex and often lengthy process. You must deal with your insurance company’s incessant requests for more information, gather objective evidence to prove your claim, and the possibility of receiving a denial of your initial claim.
CCK does not believe you should have to worry about these things and want to help. Call us today at 800-544-9144 for a free consultation with a member of our team.
A Long-Term Disability Lawyer Is Beneficial for Your Claim
The disability rate in Old Tappan, NJ between 2016 and 2020 was 2.4 percent. If you too have a disability preventing you from working, it is important to consider filing for LTD benefits. Some claimants may decide to handle their long-term disability claim on their own. However, claimants often commit common mistakes that can lead to a denial of their claim.
Moreover, this process is complex. A long-term disability lawyer is beneficial for your claim because they have the experience and knowledge necessary to avoid these mistakes while also ensuring a fair review of your claim.
You must read your LTD policy before you file a claim. These policies are often hard to understand, but they contain vital information concerning your claim. A long-term disability attorney from CCK serving Old Tappan, New Jersey can help you understand your policy. Moreover, we will use your policy to determine the best evidence to collect to prove your condition disables you.
Additionally, CCK can track all filing deadlines. These filing deadlines are strict. If you miss one, you may lose your right to your benefits. If you have a group policy through your employer, then you must also be aware of ERISA law. ERISA governs such policies and has its own strict deadlines and regulations. An ERISA attorney can ensure that your initial claim is ERISA compliant to ensure a fair review.
CCK Can Gather Evidence on Your Behalf that Demonstrates Your Need for LTD Benefits
Every long-term disability policy includes a definition of disability. You must show your insurer that your condition disables you per this definition. You must submit evidence to do this.
Medical records are usually your primary source of evidence. However, some claimants may need to submit supplemental evidence to strengthen their claims. CCK utilizes various forms of evidence and can collect and submit it on your behalf. Supplemental evidence we collect can include:
- Specialized reports from treating physicians: Medical records often do not tell the whole story. A specialized report from your treating physician(s) can highlight aspects of your condition that your records do not. Thus, it is important to maintain an open dialogue with your doctors while receiving treatment so that they may illustrate your need for LTD benefits.
- Witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers: Other people see how your condition affects you. Official witness statements can bolster your claim. Family and friends can attest to how your condition impairs you at home while co-workers can attest to how it impairs you in the workplace.
- Additional evaluations from outside experts: Insurance companies prefer objective evidence. Do not rely on your insurer to collect all relevant evidence, and do not rely on results from independent medical exams (IMEs). CCK works with several outside experts who can provide objective evidence such as functional capacity tests, neuropsychological assessments, and vocational evaluations.
CCK Can Shoulder the Burden of Dealing with the Insurance Company
Insurance companies are often difficult. They tend to prioritize their financial needs, which leads to many LTD claims receiving denials. Insurance companies do not want to approve claims if they can help it. They will scrutinize your claim to find an “inconsistency” or some other issue to deny it. For example, many insurers employ private investigators to conduct surveillance on claimants to discover such issues.
CCK understands how frustrating it is to deal with insurance companies. Our long-term disability insurance attorneys have over three decades of combined experience and know how these companies operate.
We can act as a point of contact between you and them. In short, all correspondence will pass through us first. This frees up your time to focus on your well-being. We can collect and submit all documentation and evidence on your behalf. We want to shoulder the burden of dealing with the insurance company so you do not have to.
You have the right to appeal if your insurer denies your claim. CCK can help you with your appeal. We can review your insurer’s denial letter and ascertain the best appeal strategy. If necessary, we can collect additional evidence for your appeal. Moreover, if you must bring your LTD claim to court, we are prepared to litigate.
Call CCK Today
Regardless of where you are in the process, CCK can help. This is not something you must do alone. Our team will ensure that your claim or appeal receives a fair review.
Call CCK today at 800-544-9144 for a free consultation with a member of our team serving Old Tappan, NJ. We will evaluate your case and see if we can help.
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