After starting a relatively new job at Amazon.com, a fulfilment center associate in Fresno, California began experiencing numbness from the waist down, difficulty walking, and urinary incontinence. She immediately underwent several tests and examinations and received a series of neurological diagnoses. Later, she underwent further testing and was ultimately diagnosed with transverse myelitis, or inflammation of the spinal cord.
Although she received her diagnosis before filing for long-term disability (LTD) benefits, The Hartford denied her claim, mistakenly calling her disability a pre-existing condition.
Hartford Searches for a Reason to Deny Our Client’s LTD Claim
The Hartford never denied the fact that our client suffers from transverse myelitis and is disabled as a result. Instead, the insurance company erroneously claimed our client’s previous treatments for back pain made her new diagnosis a pre-existing condition. Clearly, Hartford was seeking a reason to deny our client’s claim. Because the company failed to uphold its fiduciary duties, our client contacted Dabdoub Law Firm.
Disproving the Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion
Our client’s previous treatment did not represent a pre-existing condition because she did not know about her specific condition at the time. Additionally, due to legal precedents, back pain cannot be a pre-existing condition.
If routine doctor’s visits for undiagnosed symptoms voided insurance contracts, insurance companies like The Hartford would not exist.
Hartford failed to protect its policyholders’ interests and administer policies equally. The company also lost sight of its goals and duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Fortunately, Dabdoub Law Firm has a better understanding of both ERISA and the pre-existing condition exclusion. We gave The Hartford a chance to reverse its prior decision and award benefits.
Now, our client has access to the benefits she deserves.
Help from a Lawyer with Expertise in Disability Insurance
Disability insurance law is complex, which is why you need to hire an experienced disability attorney. Because all disability lawyers at this law firm focus on disability insurance claims, we have expertise in disability insurance law.
That means Dabdoub Law Firm has:
- Experience with every major disability insurance company.
- A proven track record of success in major disability lawsuits.
- Recovered millions of dollars in disability benefits for our clients.
Further, we never charge fees or costs unless our clients get paid.
Our firm can help at any stage of your disability insurance claim, including:
- Submitting a disability insurance claim,
- Appealing a long-term disability denial,
- Negotiating a lump-sum settlement, and
- Filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company.
Federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, so our lawyers can represent clients across the country.
Call us at (800) 969-0488 or contact us online to speak with an experienced disability attorney. Consultations are free.
