Attorneys for Your Maryland Disability Insurance Claim

If you are a resident of Maryland and would like assistance with your short or long term disability benefits claim, ERISA denial, long term care, life insurance or accidental death policy, there are several things you need to be aware of. Regardless of what stage of the claim process you are currently in, it’s usually best to consult a disability lawyer and carefully go through your options before you file a disability benefits claim, appeal, or a lawsuit. In addition, it’s important to have an experienced lawyer who deals specifically with Maryland law because there are certain state-specific aspects that may affect the case.

Maryland residents that have had their disability insurance benefits denied can file a lawsuit in the Maryland District Court or Circuit Court under a limited set of circumstances. Maryland’s state appellate courts includes the Court of Special Appeals and the Maryland Court of Appeals. If the disability claimant resides in Maryland and the disability insurance company is located in a different state, and the amount of disability benefits payable is greater than $75,000, then the lawsuit can be filed in Maryland Federal District Court. If the disability insurance policy is an employer provided policy governed by ERISA, then the disability claim must be filed in federal court. Maryland has one Federal District Court. An ERISA governed disability claim denial lawsuit can usually be filed in any state that the insurance company conducts business. According to the Maryland Department of Insurance there are more than 1,500 insurance companies that sell insurance products in Maryland.

When seeking assistance from a disability insurance attorney in Maryland, it is important to consider how much experience your lawyer has in dealing with your specific disability insurance company. At the Law Offices of Dell Disability Lawyers, we deal with every major disability company on a daily basis. We know every action that they will take. We have earned our reputation in both Maryland and Nationwide as aggressive, competent, and reliable disability insurance lawyers. It is essential to hire an experienced attorney with a disability insurance law firm that has the resources, co-counsel network and experience to effectively represent disability insurance claimants against these nationwide disability insurance companies.

If you need attorney representation in Maryland, please contact us for a free phone consultation. We handle disability benefits claims process at all stages: applications to disability, appeals processes, and litigation of disability lawsuits. We are available to help you with any claim in the United States and you will not be required to come to our office. If we cannot assist you, we will try to refer you to someone that can. We encourage you to look around our extensive website and download our free E-brochure to learn more about our legal services.

What qualifies as a disability in Maryland?

In Maryland, a disability is legally defined as an injury or illness that hinders an individual from carrying out major life activities, including work, self-care, and daily tasks. This definition encompasses both physical and mental impairments. To be eligible for disability benefits in Maryland, the applicant must have a significant impairment that has persisted or is anticipated to persist for a minimum of 12 months, or lead to death.

The disability must also prevent the applicant from engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA). Substantial gainful activity is defined as any work that provides an income and involves significant physical or mental effort. For those who are self-employed, SGA is determined by the amount of income earned. In addition to meeting these criteria, the individual must also provide medical evidence proving that their condition meets the criteria of a disability under Maryland law. Depending on the type of disability benefits being applied for, there may be additional eligibility requirements that must be met.

What is the appeal process for disability benefits?

After your initial application is denied, you may request a reconsideration of your application. During the reconsideration stage, another review of your application will determine whether it should be approved. If you receive a second denial, you can request a hearing. You have 60 days from the date of the reconsideration’s denial to request a hearing. You will also need to submit any new evidence within 10 days of filing the hearing request.

The hearing is held before an administrative law judge and can be conducted in-person or over the phone. During the hearing, your disability lawyer in Maryland will present evidence to prove that you meet the criteria for disability benefits and explain why your application was denied. You are also free to testify during the hearing and question any witnesses who may have been called by either side. After the hearing, the judge will review the evidence and issue a written opinion. If the decision is in your favor, you will be awarded disability benefits. If not, you can appeal the decision by filing an appeal with the Appeals Council. If your appeal is denied, you may have the option of filing a lawsuit in federal court.

Do I Have to File My Disability Denial Lawsuit in Maryland?

In the event of a disability claim denial, our disability attorneys will usually have the option of selecting one of several states to file the disability lawsuit. More than 80% of short-term and long-term disability insurance policies are governed by a federal law called ERISA, which means that a Maryland disability insurance attorney can usually file a lawsuit in any federal court in any state.

Most Maryland disability lawyers will prefer to file a disability lawsuit in the state of Maryland. This is because the laws in Maryland are more favorable to claimants with regard to medical evidence and deadlines for filing claims or appeals. Additionally, if the insurance company failed to follow the proper procedures they may be required to pay penalties and attorneys’ fees, which can be significant if a case goes to trial.

It is important to remember that each state has different laws for disability benefits, so it is essential to consult a qualified and experienced disability lawyer in Maryland to ensure that you receive the best possible outcome with your claim. Your attorney can help you understand the legal requirements and provide guidance on how to present evidence of your disability. They can also represent you at hearings or appeals, negotiate settlements on your behalf and provide legal advice throughout the process.

Answers to Questions About Working With Us

I need a disability lawyer near me. Do you work in Maryland?

Yes. We are a national disability insurance law firm with extensive experience and we are available to represent you regardless of where you live in Maryland or anywhere else in the United States. We have partner disability lawyers in every state and we have filed lawsuits in most federal courts nationwide. Our disability lawyers represent disability claimants at all stages of a claim for disability insurance benefits, and we deal with clients who have a wide variety of medical conditions or have experienced injury. There is nothing that our lawyers have not seen in the disability insurance world, so please do not hesitate to give us a call for a free initial consultation.

What are your fees?

Since we represent disability insurance claimants at different stages of a disability insurance claim, we offer a variety of different fee options. We understand that claimants living on disability insurance benefits have a limited source of income; therefore we always try to work with the clients to make our attorney fees as affordable as possible. The three available fee options are a contingency fee basis (no attorney fee or cost unless we make a recovery), hourly fee or fixed flat rate. In every case we provide each client with a written fee agreement detailing the terms and conditions. We always offer a free initial phone consultation and we appreciate the opportunity to work with you in obtaining payment of your disability insurance benefits.

Do I have to come to your office to work with your law firm?

No. We are certainly available to meet with you at any of our satellite offices located in either Maryland or another state, however following a review of your disability policy or any other pertinent documents and a free telephone conversation we are usually able to make a determination of how to best move forward with legal representation.

A successful claim will depend on the confirmation of your physician. With properly documented medical evidence our knowledgeable attorneys will make a determination of the best path forward. It is our job to try to get our deserving clients paid their disability insurance benefits as quick as possible; therefore we prefer to have an initial consultation via telephone.

For purposes of efficiency and to reduce expenses for our clients we have found that 99% of our clients prefer to communicate via telephone, e-mail, fax, GoToMeeting.com sessions, or Skype. If you prefer an initial in-person meeting, please let us know. A disability company will never require you to come to their office and similarly we are set up so that we handle your entire claim without the need for you to come to our office. Whether you need help with the initial application process, ERISA-governed policy issues, employer-sponsored Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance problems, insurance company denial, appeals, or litigation processes, we are happy to help remotely.

How can I contact you?

When you call us during normal business hours, you will immediately speak with a disability attorney. We can be reached at 800-698-9159 or by email. Because we have extensive resources, our lawyers and staff return all client calls the same day. Client emails are usually replied to within the same business day and seem to be the preferred and most efficient method of communication for most clients.

Reviews From Maryland Clients

Choosing a disability law firm to represent you in the application, appeals, or lawsuit stages is no easy task. You want to look for a law office with legal experts who have extensive experience in dealing with initial disability claims, appeals processes, and litigation, and have handled thousands of claims. It’s vital that your chosen disability lawyers of Maryland have extensive legal resources, a well-earned reputation, and a high client satisfaction rate. Be sure to browse some of the client recommendations to make the best decisions:

Demetric W.

Before I called Dell Disability Lawyers I called several law firms in my area and to my disappointment, I was unable to find a local attorney who I felt could really help me settle my long-term disability claim. I was at the end of my rope and I did not want to deal with my insurance carrier anymore because of the tactics they used throughout the years after I became sick. I was just about to give up until I discovered a Dell Disability Lawyers video on YouTube. I was amazed at the information presented because I felt as if they were speaking directly to me. As a result, I contacted the law firm and was able to speak to an attorney the same day.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Stephen Jessup for your professionalism and prompt way of handling my case. It is very hard to find a law firm that will educate clients on all of the logistics that lead up to the final settlement offer. I will recommend your services to anyone who has legal insurance needs in the future. I’m still in shock about my settlement. Your services have far exceeded my expectations in every way. Again, thank you for all you have done for me.

I would also like to thank Ms. Sonia R. Nogueira for your constant reassurance and for always making me feel like I could call you any time and as many times as necessary with questions. Thank you for your kindness.

I would recommend Dell Disability Lawyers because the attorneys are extremely knowledgeable and professional. When you call their office, they won’t lead you down the dark road of the unknown… what they will do is tell you exactly what they can do for you.

Top 5 Disability Insurance Cases Resolved by Dell Disability Lawyers in Maryland

Hartford reverses denial of disability benefits for Adventist HealthCare employee with RSD/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome — A former Registered Nurse at Adventist HealthCare was denied long-term disability benefits by Hartford. She had beenreceiving benefits from January 27, 2010, to October 31, 2014. Hartford cut off her benefits due to a policy change in the definition of disability. Hartford believed she no longer fit their “Any Occupation” definition of disability. The client contacted Dell Disability Lawyers, who argued that the decision to terminate benefits was incorrect based on medical records. The legal team pointed out that the physician conducting an Independent Medical Examination for Hartford relied on covert surveillance and ignored medical assessments and surgeries done by her treating doctors. The appeal was successful and her benefits, including past dues, were reinstated.