What to Expect in a Hartford Disability Benefit Denial Lawsuit

You probably feel as if the Appeal review conducted by Hartford was a sham and you never had a chance to have your Hartford disability benefit denial reversed. Your feeling of being called a liar by Hartford and questioning if it is even worth filing a Hartford disability lawsuit is exactly Hartford’s plan. The sad truth is that the law governing long term disability insurance claims favors disability insurance companies and therefore a high percentage of Hartford disability appeal denials are upheld. Hartford hopes that you will just go away and that they can strong arm you to return to work out of financial necessity. The good news is that with a strong legal strategy your Hartford disability benefit lawsuit can result in a recovery of your disability benefits.

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What Should You Expect In A Hartford Disability Lawsuit?

Through our experience of having helped thousands of Hartford disability insurance claimants nationwide, we would like the opportunity to help you win your Hartford disability benefit lawsuit. In order to help you understand what to expect in a Hartford disability lawsuit, Attorneys Gregory Dell and Cesar Gavidia have prepared the Hartford disability lawsuit video below. We encourage you to contact any of our disability insurance lawyers for a free immediate review of your Hartford disability claim denial.

When Can A Hartford Disability Lawsuit Be Filed?

The answer to this question depends on whether you have a claim that is governed by The Employee Retirement Income Security Act, also known as (ERISA.). If you have a Hartford disability claim that was provided to you as an employee benefit, then your claim is almost always governed by ERISA. An ERISA disability lawsuit cannot be filed against Hartford until you have received a denial of the appeal you submitted to Hartford. 

An ERISA lawsuit usually must be filed within either 3 years of your date of disability or the date of the final disability denial decision. If Hartford fails to make a timely decision on your appeal, you can file suit without having to wait for Hartford’s appeal decision. The law governing time periods to file lawsuits is known as the Statute of Limitations and it is an area of law that is regularly changing and not consistent from state to state. 

In a Non-ERISA disability benefit claim denial an appeal is usually not required by Hartford and most lawsuits can be filed 90 days after proof of loss is due but no later than 3 years after the date of denial. The period of time in which a lawsuit must be filed can be a complicated analysis determined by a combination of the policy language and the law of the state in which the person was denied. The best thing to do in many cases to avoid a statutory problem is to file a lawsuit as soon as reasonably possible.


Our Clients Have Recovered Hartford Disability Benefits in 99% of our Hartford Disability Lawsuits


As much as we love to beat up Hartford for their wrongful disability claim denials, we know how to set our egos aside. Our goal for every client is to try to resolve their Hartford claim in the most expedient, cost-effective, and efficient manner possible. Upon review of your disability denial letter from Hartford we can immediately let you know if you have a claim that we think we can help you with. We look forward to speaking with you to discuss your options against Hartford.

What Are the Most Challenging Issues in a Hartford Disability Lawsuit?

The most challenging aspect of any disability lawsuit is the fact that your Hartford disability benefit denial is likely governed by ERISA. ERISA is a pro-insurance company federal law that governs almost all employer-provided disability policies. ERISA was designed so that insurance companies could offer affordable benefits to employees and in return have limited lawsuit expenses if a disability claim is denied. If your disability policy was not provided by your employer, then you will not have to worry about the ERISA lawsuit limitations. In our video below, disability attorneys Stephen Jessup and Gregory Dell discuss the reasons why ERISA makes disability lawsuits against a company like Hartford challenging.

Five Reasons ERISA Disability Laws Favor Hartford 

  1. No jury trials are permitted;
  2. No punitive damages;
  3. Very limited discovery;
  4. The Judge usually must apply a standard of review that defers to the insurance company’s conclusion that you are not disabled;
  5. The Judge can remand the case back to Hartford for any additional chance to review the claim and deny it again;

How Much Does Our Firm Charge to Handle a Hartford Disability Lawsuit?

The proper preparation of a lawsuit against Hartford takes a lot of legal time and our law firm is selective in the type and quantity of cases we accept. Providing the highest level of legal work and personal attention to your claim is a fundamental mode of operation for every lawyer in our firm. We are not high volume social security lawyers that are trying to handle disability insurance claims against Hartford.

We have been handling claims against Hartford for over 30 years. We only handle Hartford disability lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This means that we charge you a percentage of the disability benefits that we recover on your behalf. If we are not successful at recovering any disability benefits for you, then you do not owe us any attorney fees or cost for the work that we have done on your behalf. 

More than 90% of the disability lawsuits that we have handled against Hartford have resolved in a one-time lump sum settlement. We encourage you to review some of our Hartford resolved case summaries to learn more about our experience. Most of our Hartford disability lawsuit settlements have confidentiality provisions which limit our ability to discuss specific details about the cases.

Collecting Hartford Disability Benefits Is A Reality

Through our 30+ years of experience litigating against Hartford and our daily work on behalf of Hartford disability claimants nationwide, we have seen and we are constantly aware of every claims handling technique used by Hartford. We are one of the few law firms in the entire country that has the experience of going through a jury trial and receiving a favorable verdict against Hartford. As a result of our years of battling Hartford we have established a strong reputation and a unique litigation technique that allows us to cut through the traditional 18 to 24 month delay in resolving a Hartford disability lawsuit.

We encourage you to contact any of our disability insurance lawyers to discuss some strategies for a possible resolution of your Hartford disability denial. It is incredible and sad how many people we see give up the fight following a claim denial as they don’t want to deal with Hartford. Our lawyers make the lawsuit process as simple as possible for claimants by requiring almost no time or effort by the claimant to pursue a Hartford lawsuit. Any of our disability lawyers are available for an immediate free phone consultation to discuss your Hartford claim denial.

What are the Top 10 Reasons for Hartford Disability Denials?

  1. Hartford denied the claim based on objective medical evidence
  2. Hartford’s in-house doctor denied the disability claim
  3. With no exam a third party medical company denied a Hartford claim
  4. With functional limitations Hartford denied a disability claim because claimant has the ability to perform sedentary occupation
  5. After a compulsory medical exam a doctor hired by Hartford denied the disability claim
  6. Hartford denied the claim based on a vocational consultant evaluation of employability in another occupation
  7. Hartford ignored claimant’s treating doctor’s opinion of limited work restrictions and denied claim
  8. Based on video surveillance Hartford denied disability claim
  9. My definition of disability changed from own occupation to any occupation and Hartford denied my disability claim
  10. Hartford based your denial on a mental disability and not a physical disability and therefore limited your benefits to 24 months

Can You Sue the Hartford Disability?

In some cases, yes. If your long-term disability claim was denied by Hartford and you have completed the appeals process, it may be possible for you to file a lawsuit against Hartford for the denial. It is necessary to consult with an attorney to assess the feasibility of this option in these circumstances.

The Hartford is required by law to act in good faith when handling disability claims. This means that if the company fails to meet its obligations, such as denying a claim without a valid reason or failing to provide sufficient evidence to justify a denial, it may be liable for damages resulting from their actions.

It is also important to note that the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit against The Hartford varies from state to state. You should seek legal advice as soon as possible to determine if you can file a lawsuit and the amount of time you have to do so.

When considering a lawsuit against The Hartford, it is important to understand that the entire process may be lengthy and complex. It is essential to have experienced legal representation that has the expertise and resources necessary to maximize your chances of success. An attorney who specializes in disability law will be able to advise you on the best course of action and provide you with comprehensive guidance throughout the process.

Resources to Help You Win Disability Benefits

Disability Benefit Denial Options
Submit a Strong Hartford Appeal Package

We work with you, your doctors, and other experts to submit a very strong Hartford appeal.

Learn more

Sue Hartford

We have filed thousands of disability denial lawsuits in federal Courts nationwide against Hartford.

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Protect Your Benefits
Get Your Hartford Disability Application Approved
We help claimants throughout the entire application process.

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Prevent a Hartford Disability Benefit Denial
We manage every aspect of your disability claim following claim approval.

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Negotiate a Hartford Lump-Sum Settlement

Our goal is to negotiate the highest possible buyout of your long-term disability policy.

Learn more

Hartford Reviews
(71)

Policy Holder Rating

1.5 out of 5
Read 71 reviews
0%would recommend
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52%
1
46%
Timely Payments
1.9out of 5
Handling Claim
1.9out of 5
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Dependable
1.8out of 5
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1.9out of 5
Showing 8 of 71 Reviews
Hartford

Former Hartford employee has had life insurance and accidental death policy's revoked for one late premium payment

Reviewed by Becky H. THOMAS on February 12th 2024   Verified Policyholder | February 2024 date of disability
Dislike how they are constantly interrupting the lives of their disabled EE's whom are entitled to benefit which they paid into out of there pay check every pay period onl... read more >
Reply
Sent on February 12th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell

Thank you for your review of Hartford and we appreciate you sharing.  It’s sad they don’t take care of their own employees.

Hartford

Bad Faith

Reviewed by Dustin G on October 12th 2023   Verified Policyholder | November 2020 date of disability
They kept asking my doctor for the same information that they did not need to process my claim. He kept sending in the same information, and they kept asking for it. My do... read more >
Hartford

Denied by Hartford after 20 years of Payments

Reviewed by Mary on October 11th 2023   Verified Policyholder
Hello,I am a Multiple Sclerosis patient. I also have Lymph-edema, Asthma, Blood-clot problems, Bi-Polar 1 Depression, and Head & Neck Injuries. And now, due to MS, Spast... read more >
Hartford

This company is a scam!

Reviewed by Hana K. on July 13th 2023   Verified Policyholder | December 2022 date of disability
The Hartford does not pay claims. The Hartford only collects premiums. The Hartford doesn’t care if you are terminally ill. I’ve been employed at my employer since 201... read more >
Hartford

Hartford Stopped Payments

Reviewed by Fed up in PA on April 13th 2023   Verified Policyholder | January 2023 date of disability
Worst company ever. Their analysts will go against your treating provider every single time. Horrible experience, just horrible.
Hartford

Hartford never paid me

Reviewed by Nanette M. on April 26th 2020   Verified Policyholder
I went on disability March 25, 2019 until Dec. 23, 2019 from my job FedEx. The Hartford insurance company didn’t pay me my disability check after the end of July. I appe... read more >
Reply
Sent on April 26th 2020 by Attorney Gregory Dell

Nanette, we are sorry to hear that your claim for benefits for the period of July through December was denied. Please feel free to contact us for a free consultation.read more >

Hartford

Hartford rep felt so guilty over how the company treated me that she quit

Reviewed by Delton on April 8th 2020   Verified Policyholder
It’s been since 1998 but they really screwed me over big time and caused my family and I much distress ~ first they required me to go to a psychiatric doctor before they... read more >
Reply
Sent on April 8th 2020 by Attorney Rachel Alters

Delton, I’m sorry to hear about the experience you had with Hartford. Unfortunately since your claim dates back to 1998 it would be too late to file suit as the statu... read more >

Hartford

Hartford ajuster won't return my calls. I might have to move back to California

Reviewed by Jesse on March 17th 2020   Verified Policyholder
I was awarded medical for life, for my back injuries at work by the court of Los Angeles in California years ago. I moved to Colorado two years ago and for the past few mo... read more >
Answered Questions by Our Lawyers
(66)
Showing 8 of 66 Answered Questions

Q: Disability company dropped my monthly benefits

Answered on February 28th 2024 by Attorney Rachel Alters
A: Since you went back to work full time you would not qualify for further benefits. You could file a new claim i... Read More >

Q: The Hartford stopped monthly benefits for repayment due to an overpayment. Once monthly benefits end do I still have to repay remaining overpayment balance?

Answered on February 28th 2024 by Attorney Rachel Alters
A: Yes, you will still be responsible for the overpayment even if your Hartford benefits end. Read More >

Q: Short term vs long term

Answered on February 14th 2024 by Attorney Jay Symonds
A: Nightwatcher, you and your treatment providers will be required to submit additional records and information a... Read More >

Q: Can I do anything to get my LTD ?

Answered on February 3rd 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Jacqueline:You should call us to discuss your Hartford disability claim. It usually takes 60-90 days for Har... Read More >

Q: Lifetime disability policy with Hartford

Answered on January 29th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Deb,Thank you for your question about a Hartford lifetime disability policy. In order to support your pos... Read More >

Q: Can the Hartford reduce my long term disability payment due to a rental income?

Answered on January 25th 2024 by Attorney Cesar Gavidia
A: Usually non-work that is not described a deductible source of income the disability policy would not reduce th... Read More >

Q: Is there a specific video to help me prepare for a Hartford doctor appointment (IME)?

Answered on January 3rd 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: We have prepared a few videos on independent medical exams requested by disability insurance companies. Whethe... Read More >
Helpful Videos
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Showing 12 of 873 Videos
Disability Benefit Tips
(330)
Showing 8 of 330 Benefit Tips

Does Hartford Pay Disability Insurance Claims?

At Dell & Schaefer, we get questions about Hartford long term disability policies on ne... Read More >

How Does Hartford Long Term Disability Work?

The most common questions for a disability attorney involve understanding how disability cove... Read More >

What Happens If My Hartford Short Term Disability Claim is Denied?

Understand your rights once your Hartford short term disability income claim has been denied.... Read More >

How Long Does a Hartford Short Term or Long Term Disability Claim Last?

Hartford disability income policy holders expect Hartford to pay their Short Term & Long-... Read More >

If I Convert my Former Employee Disability Policy to a Private Policy Does ERISA Govern?

Many employer welfare benefit plans offer employees who quit their employment the option of converting their disability insurance pl... Read More >

Is the Hartford Disability Purchase of Aetna Bad for Aetna LTD Policy Holders?

In October 2017 Hartford Insurance company agreed to purchase the disability and life insuran... Read More >

Hartford Disability Claim Problems

Hartford is requesting long term disability claimants to provide additional documentation fro... Read More >

How Can I Protect Myself At A Hartford IME Exam?

In this video, disability insurance attorneys Rachel Alters and Cesar Gavidia discuss what yo... Read More >
Dell Disability Cases
(372)
Showing 8 of 372 Dell Disability Cases

Nurse With Knee and Back Disorder Wins Hartford Disability Appeal

We represent a General Duty Nurse who was denied long term disability benefits as Hartford im... Read More >

Executive Director with Meniere's Denied Long Term Disability Insurance Benefits By Hartford

Our client, came to us when he was unjustly denied his claim for LTD benefits by Aetna, now Hartford, assert... Read More >

A Hartford Disability Benefit Lawsuit Victory for Truist Banker with Lupus

Our client found us after she was denied continued disability insurance benefits by the Hartf... Read More >

Hartford Denies Disability Benefits To Home Depot Employee 3 Weeks Before Change of Disability Definition

Our client was a former in-store merchandising associate responsible for the movement of merc... Read More >

Hartford Denies Long Term Disability Benefits After Paying for 22 Years

It is crazy that Hartford denied long term disability benefits to our client after paying for... Read More >

Hartford Overturns Denial of Disability Benefits on Appeal

Our client, a former clerk at a coal mine with severe lumbar back problems first, contacted our office and spoke with Attorney Stephen Jessup ... Read More >

Hartford Approves Disability Claim After Appeal Deadline

Prior to filing for disability our client worked as a registered nurse in a hospital setting, suffering from multiple chronic medical conditio... Read More >

Hartford overturned its previous denial of LTD benefits for Illinois Account Representative

Our client, Mr. K, formerly worked as an Account Representative for an international brokerage firm. In May 2017 a number of medical issues, i... Read More >
Disability Lawsuit Stories
(765)
Showing 8 of 765 Lawsuit Stories

Federal Court Overturns Aetna Denial Of Disability Benefits

In the recent case of Ferrin v. Aetna Life Ins. Co. a federal judge from the Northern District of Illinois determined that Aetna improperly te... Read More >

Hartford Admits to Improper Offset, Agrees to Reimburse 10 Years of Wrongfully Withheld Money

In August of 2019, the next of kin for a man currently incarcerated in Florida State Prison reached out to our firm as his relative had been d... Read More >

Court Finds Video Surveillance Renders Claimant’s Self-Reporting Unreliable and Upholds Hartford’s Termination of LTD Benefits

In Cummings v. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co. (Hartford), Plaintiff was employed by the Free-Port McMoran ... Read More >

Can Medical Records Created After the Eligibility Period Support a Claim for Disability Benefits?

In James s. Louis v. The Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company (Hartford), Plaintiff was a Senior Principal Product... Read More >

Appeals Court Upholds Hartford's Termination of Disability Benefits

In Scott Griffin v. Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Company, Plaintiff was a medical transcriptionist who was initially awarded long te... Read More >

Hartford Disability Company Field Interview Request and Video Surveillance

Hartford Disability Company, and other disability insurers, use video surveillance and field interviews as a technique to deny claims. A recen... Read More >

Hartford Long Term Disability Benefit Denial Reversed by Minnesota Federal Judge

A long term disability insurance claimant had his benefits denied when a doctor made a mistak... Read More >

Federal District Court Overturns Hartford's Denial of Long Term Disability Benefits

In the recent decision of Tobin v Hartford Life & Acc. Ins. Co. a Michigan Federal District Court overturned Hartford’s denial of long t... Read More >

Reviews from Our Clients

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5 Ways We Help Get Your Benefits Paid

Get Your Disability Application Approved

Our goal is to get your application for disability income benefits approved. Applying for disability benefits can be a difficult process and the information you provide is critical. Most disability insurance companies look at your application in hopes of finding a reason to deny your claim. Your disability company will ask you to complete numerous forms, interview you, request lots of information, speak with your doctors and possibly request to have you examined by their "hired gun" doctor.

Through our experience of having helped thousands of disability insurance claimants, our lawyers will guide you through the entire application process and give you the best chance to get your disability claim approved the first time.

Submit A Strong Appeal Package

If your disability insurance benefits have been wrongfully denied, then our lawyers know exactly what it takes to get your disability claim approved. You only get once chance to submit an Appeal, therefore every piece of evidence that will support your disability claim must be included. The goal is to win your disability benefits at the Appeal level, but while preparing your Appeal you must consider how a federal judge will review your disability claim if your benefit denial is upheld.

Preparing a strong disability appeal package is an art that requires you to understand how the courts interpret your disability policy language, ERISA regulations / laws, and how to strategically present evidence in support of your definition of "disability". We encourage you to contact any of our lawyers for a free immediate review of your disability denial.

Sue Your Disability Company

98% of the disability insurance lawsuits filed by our law firm have resulted in either the payment of benefits or a lump-sum settlement agreement. Our disability lawyers have filed ERISA governed and private policy long term disability insurance lawsuits against every major disability insurance company in state and federal courts nationwide and we love fighting for the "little guy" against the multi-billion dollar insurance company giants.

We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients and we would like the opportunity to provide you with a free review of your disability benefit denial. There are many complex factors in a disability benefit lawsuit and the legal battle to win long term disability benefits can be fierce.

Prevent A Disability Benefit Denial

Approval of long-term disability is a continuous process as every disability insurance company will evaluate your eligibility for benefits on a monthly basis. You can never let your guard down and assume that your disability company will continue to pay your benefits for as long as you think you need them.

Our law firm offers a reasonable flat fee monthly claim handling service in which we handle every aspect of your long-term disability claim and do whatever it takes to make sure you are paid every month.

Negotiate a Lump-Sum Settlement

Let's discuss if a lump-sum settlement or buyout of your disability insurance claim is both available and makes financial sense for you. Our lawyers have negotiated more than five-hundred million dollars in disability insurance buyouts and we know how to get you a maximum settlement. A disability insurance company is not required to offer a buyout and not every disability company offers them.

Questions About Hiring Us

Who are Dell Disability Lawyers?

We are disability insurance lawyers that know how to get your short or long term disability benefits paid. As a nationwide law firm we have helped thousands of disability insurance claimants throughout the United States to collect hundreds of millions of dollars of disability insurance benefits from every major disability insurance company.

In more than 98% of our cases, our lawyers have been able to either get our clients paid monthly disability benefits or obtain a one-time lump-sum settlement. Our lawyers have seen it all when it comes to disability insurance claims and we know exactly what it takes for your disability claim to be approved.

We welcome you to contact any of our attorneys for a free immediate review of your disability claim. We also invite you to visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we have more than 700 videos and regularly provide tips to help protect your disability benefits.

Who do you help?

Our lawyers help individuals that have either purchased a long term disability insurance policy from an insurance company or obtained short or long term disability insurance coverage as a benefit from their employer. We have helped individuals in almost every type of occupation with monthly disability benefit payments ranging from $1,500 to $50,000.

Our clients include all types of employees ranging from retail associates, sales representatives, government employees, police officers, teachers, janitors, nurses, pilots, truck drivers, financial advisors, doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, consultants, IT professionals, engineers, professional athletes, business owners, and high level executives.

A strong understanding and presentation of the duties of your occupation is essential for securing disability insurance benefits.

Do you work in my state?

Yes. We are a national disability insurance law firm that is available to represent you regardless of where you live in the United States. We have partner 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. There is nothing that our lawyers have not seen in the disability insurance world.

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 claimant to make our attorney fees as affordable as possible.

The three available fee options are a contingency fee agreement (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. For purposes of efficiency and to reduce expenses for our clients we have found that 99% of our clients prefer to communicate via phone, email, fax, GoToMeeting 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.

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. Lawyers and staff must return all client calls 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.