Vaughan Long-Term Disability Lawyer

You need a Vaughan disability lawyer (LTD lawyer) when your long-term disability claim has been wrongly denied by your insurance company. It’s devastating to receive an official letter stating “disability claim denied” from your LTD insurer when you’re counting on the money and you live in Vaughan, Ontario. 

A long-term disability lawyer will fight for your rights and compel your insurance company to do the right thing: get you the money you were counting on. There are many personal injury law firms that claim to have the best long-term disability lawyers, but what you want to find is the best long-term disability claim lawyer for you and the needs of your case. Many of our clients frequently search for “disability lawyer near me” because their disability or injury makes driving around Vaughan difficult, let alone all of Toronto. 

They want a local long-term disability denial lawyer. When it comes to finding the best long-term disability lawyer for you, it is smart to do some research. Many clients search for “disability lawyer Ontario” or “Ontario disability lawyer” even if they live in Vaughan, just to evaluate their options. A lawyer for long-term disability has a particular skill set—and that’s what you’re looking for.

When looking for the best long-term disability lawyer, many people seek out Verkhovets Law. Every Vaughan disability lawyer at our personal injury law firm has the necessary skill set to fight with your insurance company, so your claim goes from “denied” to “approved.” 

Our lawyers for disability are known for their experience, expertise, commitment, tenacity, strategy, and communication skills to finally get you the compensation you need and deserve for your denied disability claim.

Disability lawyers explain how we fight insurance companies

Many clients have come to Verkhovets Law in Vaughan after they already tried to fight with their insurance companies without a long-term disability denial lawyer. Unfortunately, their claim is still denied. That’s because insurance companies tend to dismiss certain long-term disability claims because they don’t believe claimants have been injured. Insurance companies believe that many people are out to defraud them and obtain compensation under false pretenses. That’s the first hurdle.

A long-term disability denial lawyer at Verkhovets Law knows that in order to make a successful claim, and receive long-term disability payments, you must produce medical evidence of your disability. This means seeing lots of medical specialists who can first: evaluate your case; second, document your disability or injury; and third, produce the necessary medical reports to send to your insurance company. That’s the second hurdle.

The best disability lawyer knows that insurance companies are never in a rush to offer you compensation for your disability. What this means for you is that your denied disability claim will sit around until a talented Ontario disability lawyer at Verkhovets Law takes on your case. Yes, your insurance company will make you wait. And wait some more. When dealing with a disability claim, insurance companies often add unnecessary complexity and resort to delaying tactics. They have time; you the disabled client, don’t. That’s the third hurdle.

Vaughan disability lawyer explains how we help clients with disability claims

When you hire a Vaughan disability lawyer at Verkhovets Law, we help you in three specific ways:

  1. Understanding the eligibility criteria for long-term disability benefits. Insurance policies have specific definitions and requirements of disability that must be met to qualify for compensation payments. Navigating these criteria can be confusing, especially for those not familiar with legal jargon or lacking medical expertise. A long-term disability claim lawyer at Verkhovets Law will guide you through your policy to ensure that you are eligible to make a disability claim.
  2. Helping you obtain the necessary medical reports. Our knowledgeable LTD lawyer in Vaughan can help individuals gather and organize the necessary medical evidence. We work closely with medical professionals to obtain comprehensive reports that clearly outline the individual’s condition, limitations, and the impact on their ability to work.
  3. Liaising with insurance companies, so you don’t have to. A long-term disability claim lawyer at Verkhovets Law acts as a liaison between the claimant and the insurance company. We are experienced in negotiating with insurers and can ensure effective communication, presenting the necessary information while protecting the claimant’s rights and interests.

Verkhovets Law Vaughan LTD lawyers understand all the legal processes and timelines involved in long-term disability claims. We guide our clients through each step of the process, ensuring all necessary documents are filed accurately, fully, and on time.

We also understand that the honour of best long-term disability lawyer is one conferred by our clients, and not us. Regularly, our clients Google “disability lawyer near me” and Verkhovets Law is near the top of many personal injury categories.

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Which health conditions are eligible for long-term disability benefits? Insights from a Vaughan disability lawyers

When it comes to qualifying for long-term disability (LTD) benefits, understanding which health conditions are eligible is crucial. Each Vaughan disability lawyer at Verkhovets Law has in-depth knowledge of the criteria set forth by insurance policies and the legal framework surrounding LTD claims.

In this section, we will outline some common health conditions that may qualify individuals for LTD benefits, providing insights from our Vaughan disability lawyers to help you understand long-term benefits: which health conditions qualify and which ones do not.

Physical Health Conditions:

Many physical health conditions can qualify individuals for LTD benefits. These may include:

a) Musculoskeletal Disorders: Chronic back pain, herniated discs, arthritis, and fibromyalgia can all have a substantial influence on an individual’s ability to perform everyday duties and keep gainful employment. Many of these conditions can be the result of a car accident; each best disability lawyer at Verkhovets Law can advise you.

b) Chronic Illnesses: Multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, and Parkinson’s disease can all create debilitating symptoms that make it difficult to work consistently and successfully. The diagnosis for these frequently takes long and requires many medical experts;  ask your long-term disability denial lawyer how best to proceed. Heads-up: there have been documented cases where a severe car accident causing brain injury or spinal cord injury has led to the early onset of Parkinson’s disease, which does not present for months or years after the accident.

c) Cancer and its Treatments: Cancer diagnosis and treatment frequently result in physical limitations, resulting in extended absences from work or an inability to perform job-related responsibilities.

Mental Health Conditions:

Mental health conditions are also eligible for LTD benefits. A Vaughan disability lawyer at Verkhovets Law understands the importance of recognizing and addressing these conditions. Some common mental health conditions that may qualify include:

  1. Depression and Anxiety Disorders: Severe and persistent depression, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other similar conditions can have a significant influence on a person’s mental well-being and ability to work. A disability lawyer Ontario can help you with this.
  2. Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia: These major mental health illnesses can affect daily functioning and make it very difficult to keep job.
  3. Dementia, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and cognitive decline caused by neurological illnesses can impair an individual’s memory, focus, and decision-making abilities, limiting their ability to work.

Other Health Conditions:

There are additional health conditions that may qualify individuals for LTD benefits. Ask your long-term disability claim lawyer at Verkhovets Law if you are eligible to claim any of these:

  1. Chronic Pain Disorders: Conditions such as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), chronic migraines, and other chronic pain disorders can be severe, making it difficult for people to work.
  2. Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and Crohn’s disease can cause major physical impairments, limiting a person’s capacity to work.
  3. Cardiovascular Disorders: Severe cardiac problems, such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and chronic heart failure, can limit physical exertion and necessitate constant medical treatment, making it difficult to keep a regular job.

Long-term disability claims terms, explained

One long-term disability claim lawyer at Verkhovets Law thought it might be helpful for clients to understand the terms used both in LTD policies and LTD claims. These terms are routinely used by insurance companies and have very specific meanings:

Long-Term Disability (LTD):

Long-term disability is an insurance benefit that replaces income for those who are unable to work due to a disability that is projected to endure for an extended period of time, often more than a few months.

Elimination Period:

The elimination period, also known as the waiting period, is the time span between the onset of a disability and the individual’s eligibility for LTD benefits. It varies according to the insurance policy, but it is normally between 90 and 180 days. A disability lawyer Ontario can help you with this.

Total Disability:

Total disability is defined as the inability of an individual to execute the essential functions of their own occupation or any other occupation for which they are properly competent, based on their education, training, and experience.

Partial Disability:

When an individual is partially disabled, they can do some but not all of their job obligations or can only work part-time because of their impairment. Part-time disability compensation is often calculated as a percentage of the overall disability award, explains a lawyer for long-term disability at Verkhovets Law.

Pre-Existing Condition:

A pre-existing condition is a health ailment or injury that occurred prior to the effective date of the LTD policy. Specific provisions governing coverage for pre-existing conditions, such as exclusions or limitations, may be included in insurance policies. If an insurance company determines that your condition was pre-existing before you bought your LTD policy, they will not offer you compensation, says a Vaughan disability lawyer at Verkhovets Law.

Own Occupation:

The claimant’s own occupation refers to the precise occupation they held at the time they became disabled. Some insurance companies provides benefits if the claimant is unable to fulfil the tasks of their own occupation, while others require the claimant to be unable to work in any occupation for which they are properly qualified. A best disability lawyer at Verkhovets Law can explain this in more detail to you.

Any Occupation:

Any occupation refers to a broader category of vocations for which the claimant is fairly qualified based on their education, training, and experience. To qualify for LTD compensation, certain policies may require claimants to be unable to work in any occupation.

Residual Disability:

Residual disability is a condition in which a person can work, but has a lower income as a result of their handicap. In such instances, the claimant may be eligible for partial LTD compensation to make up for the lost wages. A disability lawyer Ontario can help you with residual disability claims.

Rehabilitation:

Rehabilitation refers to the process of helping disabled individuals regain their functional capacity and return to work. It may involve medical treatment, therapy, vocational training, or workplace accommodations.

Maximum Benefit Period:

The maximum benefit period is the length of time during which LTD benefits are payable. It is typically stated in the insurance policy and can range from a few years to until the claimant reaches retirement age. However, it is important to understand that LTD benefits are not paid our forever, says an experienced long-term disability denial lawyer at Verkhovets Law.

Vaughan long-term disability lawyer explains why LTD gets denied or cut off

Our Vaughan disability lawyers have a warning for disabled clients: just because you’ve paid premiums for disability insurance and meet the requirements to collect doesn’t mean that you will. The best long-term disability lawyer in who has worked in personal injury law for a long time know that this is 100 per cent true. Many clients have found us by Googling “disability lawyer near me.”

Long-term disability benefits are frequently denied. For instance, if you apply for long-term disability benefits, the insurance company may hire a private investigator to make sure you really do need them. In a similar vein, some people give conflicting accounts to their insurance company and their social media followers. Credibility is essential.

Verkhovets Law, a Vaughan personal injury law firm representing people with disabilities, stresses the need of its clients to understand the consequences of any of the actions below and how they negatively impact your disability claim:

  • Absence of documentation (you have no official reports from medical experts about your disability in your file)
  • Bad adjuster (inefficient, forgetful, argumentative, etc.)
  • Biased medical expert assigned by the insurance company
  • Caught by a private eye doing something that affects your credibility (for example, you claim to be disabled and you post a photo of yourself playing hockey, basketball, or another sport, to Facebook)
  • Change of definition (from time to time, either the medical profession or the insurance industry update their definitions for LTD policies). A disability lawyer Ontario at Verkhovets Law can help you with this.
  • Insufficient medical evidence beyond just a diagnosis
  • Not showing up to the independent medical examination (not showing up raises suspicion that you have something to hide)
  • Not showing up to, or complying with, rehabilitation or treatment (delaying and making excuses to not improve your own health raises suspicions with an insurance company)
  • Operating a small business at home under the radar
  • Misrepresentations in a claim, including not revealing everything about a condition or any pre-existing issues (misrepresentations or omissions, whether inadvertent or purposeful, raise doubts about the validity of claim, explains a lawyer for long-term disability at Verkhovets Law.
  • Unmet time limits for forms submissions including proof of claim or notice clauses (disrespecting time limits is a red flag for insurance companies, says an Ontario disability lawyer at our firm).
  • Wrong documentation supplied by employer
  • Your lack of communication with the insurer

How an insurance company works: long-term disability lawyer

Insurance companies in Vaughan, Ontario, are complex and exist to make money for their shareholders. A case in point: there are hardly any mutual insurance companies left. These companies provide LTD insurance policies to individuals, offering financial protection in the event of a disability that prevents them from working. Understanding how insurance companies operate can help clients navigate the claims process more effectively, every Ontario disability lawyer in Ontario believes. Here is an overview of how an insurance company typically works in the long-term disability field in Vaughan and all across Ontario:

Policy Creation and Coverage:

LTD insurance policies are designed and created by insurance providers to explain the terms and conditions of coverage. The categories of disabilities covered, the definition of disability, the benefit amount, the elimination period, and the maximum benefit term are all specified in these policies. Because each policy may contain unique conditions and requirements, policyholders must properly research and understand the terms of their specific policy. Each Ontario disability lawyer at our office agrees that this is frequently hard for the average person to do, because of insurance jargon and legal terms specific to the insurance industry.

Premiums and Payments:

Individuals must pay regular premiums to the insurance company in order to acquire LTD coverage. The premium cost is determined by several factors, including the individual’s age, occupation, health history, and preferred level of coverage. To maintain coverage and eligibility for future benefits, policyholders must pay their premiums on time.

Claim Submission and Evaluation:

When a policyholder becomes disabled and unable to work, they can file an LTD claim with their insurance provider. Typically, the claims procedure entails filling out claim forms and supplying supporting documents, including medical records, statements from healthcare providers, and other relevant evidence.

When an insurance company receives a claim, it assesses the information presented to establish the claimant’s eligibility for compensation. This review includes determining the claimant’s medical condition, the impact of the disability on the claimant’s capacity to work, and whether the claim fulfils the definition of disability as defined by the policy.

Review and Decision:

The submitted claim is reviewed by the insurance company which may request additional documentation or clarification from the claimant or their healthcare providers. In order to learn more about the claimant’s illness, they may undertake independent medical examinations (IMEs) or even surveillance.

The insurance company decides whether to approve or deny the LTD claim based on the facts gathered. If the claim is approved, the claimant will receive LTD payments in accordance with the provisions of the policy. If the long-term disability claim is denied, the insurance company must provide a clear explanation, including specific reasons based on the policy’s conditions.

Appeals and Legal Assistance:

When a long-term claim is denied, claimants have the opportunity to challenge the decision through the insurance company’s internal appeals process. This entails producing more evidence or arguing against the denial. To effectively navigate the appeals process, claimants need to get legal counsel from Verkhovets Law in Vaughan, Ontario, who are among the best long-term disability lawyer.

Ongoing Administration:

The insurance provider continues to handle the benefits for approved LTD claims, guaranteeing prompt and correct payment in accordance with the policy terms. They may check the claimant’s condition on a regular basis to confirm continued eligibility for benefits, which may include obtaining new medical records or conducting periodic exams.

It’s important to note that insurance companies have a duty to act in good faith and deal fairly with policyholders. However, disputes or disagreements regarding LTD claims may arise, which can be resolved through negotiation, mediation, or, if necessary, through legal action.

Understanding how insurance companies operate in long-term disability policies in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, provides insight into the process and can assist claimants in effectively navigating the claims process and asserting their rights. Seeking advice from LTD lawyers at Verkhovets Law can be the difference between a denied claim and an approved one. Each long-term disability claim lawyer at our firm can provide the legal advice you need.

A helping hand from a Vaughan long-term disability lawyer

Each Vaughan long-term disability lawyer at Verkhovets law determine the value of your disability claim by considering the maximum possible amount and the ranges of awards in similar personal injury cases in the past. However, the nature and extent of your damages, as well as any additional considerations, will always be taken into account. At Verkhovets Law, each experienced long-term disability lawyer will fight for your rights and the compensation you need and deserve.