California Disability Insurance Lawyer
Ensuring Plaintiffs Get Disability Benefits in California
For disability benefits claimants, California has one of the most favorable legal environments in the country. Still, even the simplest cases can run into roadblocks that can delay or even threaten your ability to get the benefits you need. Plaintiffs benefit from having a California disability insurance lawyer handle their claim from start to finish, especially if your case—like most disability cases—makes it to federal court.
Over the last two decades, Dabdoub Law Firm has exclusively handled disability claims in California and across the country. Our knowledge of disability law—particularly the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA—equips us to secure the benefits you need.
Contact (800) 969-0488 to schedule a free case evaluation. Our California disability firm serves clients nationwide against every major disability insurance company.
How Is California Disability Insurance Law Better for Plaintiffs?
California passed a law that took away an unfair advantage for disability insurance companies. For years, disability insurance companies had the upper hand in long term disability cases governed by ERISA. This is because they had “discretion.” That means that unless a federal judge found the denial of disability benefits completely unreasonable, he or she was required to rule in favor of the disability insurance company.
Discretion made it very difficult for a disabled person filing a lawsuit in court. It is a very high standard for them to meet and it wasn’t enough to prove they were disabled. Fortunately, that unfair advantage came to end. The California law that made “discretion” illegal went into effect on January 1, 2012. The statute applies to all disability and life insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2012 in California.
The California Department of Insurance has also been tough on disability insurance companies. For example, insurance commissioners reviewed disability insurance handling by several disability companies. They found CIGNA was not always reviewing long term disability claims fairly. As a result, CIGNA entered into a multi-million dollar settlement. In the end, CIGNA paid a fine and agreed to re-review many long term disability claims it had already denied. It even set aside millions of dollars to pay valid claims. Additionally, CIGNA promised to change the way it was handling disability insurance claims.
Filing Your Long-Term Disability Lawsuit in California
You should file a lawsuit for disability benefits in California if possible with the help of a California disability insurance lawyer. Get the benefit of laws with more protection for disability claimants. Our disability lawyers at Dabdoub Law Firm will try to find a way to file the lawsuit in California.
If you currently live in California, you have the right to file your disability lawsuit there. It is possible to file a disability benefits lawsuit in California if you worked in California when you became disabled. You can also file in California if the disability insurance company denied your long-term disability benefits when you lived there.
Let Dabdoub Law Firm Handle Your Disability Claim in California
Our disability lawyers handle every stage of a long-term disability benefits claim. Our firm has an experienced California disability lawyer who handles lawsuits for disability benefits in California’s state and federal courts.
Dabdoub Law Firm can help you with the initial claim process or appeal the denial or termination of your disability benefits. We can also file a lawsuit for disability benefits and help negotiate a lump-sum settlement of your long-term disability benefits.
Call (800) 969-0488 to speak with a California disability insurance lawyer at our firm.