While hunting on Dec. 27, 2020, fell 15 feet from a deer stand located in a tree. Upon his arrival at St. Vincent Hospital Green Bay, doctors examined and tested him, resulting in diagnoses for a closed fracture of one left-side rib, pulmonary contusion, intracranial hemorrhage, pneumothorax on right, and a left humeral fracture.
As a machinist in Wisconsin, the injuries Mr. X sustained ended his ability to work. His role required him to operate heavy machinery and exert strength in a manner that his injuries prevent him from doing. These disabilities not only impaired Mr. X from his own occupation, but any reasonable occupation as well.
Hartford Initially Approves, Then Denies LTD Benefits
After receiving his diagnoses, Mr. X applied for long-term disability (LTD) benefits with the Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company (Hartford). The company approved his claim in June 2021, finding that he was disabled from his own occupation as a machinist.
A clinical consultant review with Pedro Cortero at Hartford was conducted on Feb. 13, 2023. Mr. Cortero concluded that “could not consistently and reliably have the stamina to perform own occ demands” due to the disabilities Mr. X acquired as a result of his fall and that he is “actively treating” for ADD, vision disturbance, dizziness, anxiety in public, and frequent migraine headaches.
In a strange turn of events, however, Hartford denied Mr. X’s LTD benefits on June 29, 2023, just a few months after Mr. Cortero’s review. Hartford’s peer reviewer, Andrew Nava, M.D. noted there is “no evidence of functional impairment” and “there is no objective evidence to support any level of impairment for this claimant.”
Mr. X Contacts Us for Help
Mr. X sought to appeal Hartford’s denial, so he contacted Dabdoub Law Firm for assistance. Despite the medical treatment and rehabilitation therapy Mr. X has undergone since his accident, he still suffers from chronic pain, significant migraines, and a myopia of both eyes with astigmatism and presbyopia.
Citing the medical evidence in Mr. X’s case, Dabdoub Law Firm confronted Hartford and implored it to review his case and reconsider its decision to deny his LTD benefits. Ultimately, Hartford decided to reinstate Mr. X’s LTD benefits, and further legal action was not necessary.
Attorneys That Specialize in Handling Your Disability Insurance Claims
This law firm was created with a single purpose in mind: to help people get disability benefits from insurance companies. With that kind of focus, we have:
- Experience with every disability insurance company;
- A proven track record of success by winning major long-term disability lawsuits; and
- Recovered millions of dollars in disability benefits for clients like you.
Every day, our disability lawyers work to get insurance companies to approve long-term disability claims or appeal disability benefits denials. With so much at stake, shouldn’t you have expert disability lawyers on your side?
We can help with:
- Submitting a disability insurance claim;
- Appealing a long-term disability denial;
- Negotiating a lump-sum settlement; and/or
- Filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company.
Because federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, we do not have to be located in your state to help.
Call (800) 969-0488 or contact us online to speak with a disability insurance lawyer.
