Denver, Colorado — Disability Claim, Life Insurance and ERISA Attorneys
The insurance dispute lawyers at McDermott Law, LLC are dedicated to aggressively representing the rights of individuals with short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), Colorado PERA and other insurance denials and bad faith claims. The attorneys and staff at our firm possess a particular specialty in handling disability and life insurance claims governed by Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) or those filed under the Colorado PERA (Public Employee Retirement Association) disability program. The disability attorneys at the firm have over 30 years of combined legal experience ready to be put to work on your behalf.
We are committed to building for each of our clients the strongest possible claim and will work relentlessly to help them secure the benefits and compensation they need and deserve.
Our extensive knowledge of the law, litigation experience and dedication to our clients result in our ability to effectively handle, negotiate or litigate insurance dispute claims at every stage of the legal process. When working with our respected legal professionals, you can rest assured that you are getting the best possible representation for your claim and that you have the best chances of resolving your case as beneficially and efficiently as possible.
We have a proven track record of successfully resolving the following types of cases:
The Denver lawyers at McDermott Law are experienced at handling cases that involve various types of disability claims and insurance disputes.
While suffering a crippling injury is undoubtedly physically and emotionally devastating, the situation can be far more difficult to deal with if the injured person is having problems obtaining disability benefits or has been denied these benefits altogether. At McDermott Law, our Denver disability insurance lawyers:
- Are experienced at defending the rights of those who are entitled to disability benefits
- Can help injured parties navigate the complexities of the law
- Can diligently fight against insurance companies on behalf of our clients both inside and outside of the courtroom.
Disability claims made under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) can be complex cases to handle because the ERISA law is notoriously unclear and is not necessarily fair. If you have been denied benefits that should have been covered by ERISA, our Denver ERISA lawyers may be able to help you recover the financial support you need and deserve. Specifically, we are experienced at:
- Thoroughly reviewing your case
- Identifying possible reasons for the denial
- Proving your eligibility and entitlement to benefits
- Standing up for your rights at every stage of the appeals process.
Colorado PERA Disability Claims
Employees of most Colorado governmental agencies and public entities receive disability and other benefits by virtue of their participation in the Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA). These claims are administered by PERA’s disability program administrator, Unum Life Insurance Company of America (“Unum”). Available benefits may include PERA short-term disability and/or disability retirement. The PERA system for obtaining such benefits is somewhat unique. Our firm has the most experience of any law firm in the state in handling PERA disability claims and denials, as well as appeals and litigation of these matters.
Insurance Denials and Bad Faith Insurance Cases
Although you may think of your insurance policy as a safety net that will protect you in your time of need, unfortunately, agents for insurance companies do not always act ethically or legally. In fact, they may act in bad faith – trying to deny or undercut your legitimate claim – in an effort to protect their own profits at your expense. If you are involved in an insurance dispute, our Denver insurance bad faith lawyers can fiercely defend your rights to benefits and help you obtain the compensation to which you are entitled.
Fees For Our Work
Most people who are not working or who have recently lost a family member are often not in a position to pay an attorney to battle an insurance company. We understand this reality. That is why we are usually able to handle long-term disability, life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment claims on a contingency fee basis. This means that our attorney fees are based on a percentage of the amount recovered. Under such arrangement, if there is no recovery of insurance benefits, you owe the firm nothing. The various fee arrangements will be discussed with you after we have had to the opportunity to review your claim in more detail.
Denver, Colorado Disability and Insurance Bad Faith Lawyers
For more information about your legal rights and entitlements, along with a professional evaluation of your potential case, set up a complimentary consult with our trusted Denver lawyers by calling (303) 964-1800 or by emailing us using the form on this screen.
We also represent the seriously injured victims of motorcycle and auto accidents. Click here to view McDermott Law’s Injury Website
Choose an experienced Attorney, McDermott Law Can Help You
Shawn McDermott is the owner/manager of the firm specializing in the areas of insurance recovery and bad faith, ERISA, Colorado PERA, disability and life insurance, personal injury, and wrongful death.
McDermott Law has handle hundreds of short term disability, long term disability, PERA disability, life insurance and AD&D internal appeals and more than a hundred cases requiring litigation. We have the experience you need if confronted with a denial of insurance benefits.
Common Disabling Conditions
If you or someone you know has Parkinson’s disease (PD) you are not alone. In the United States, 50,000-60,000 new cases of PD are diagnosed each year, adding to the one million people who currently have PD. The Center for Disease control rated complications from Parkinson’s disease as the 14th leading cause of death in the United States. Worldwide, it is estimated that four to six million people suffer from the condition.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that progresses slowly in most people. What this means is that individuals with PD will be living with PD for twenty years or more from the time of diagnosis. While Parkinson’s disease itself is not fatal, the Center for Disease Control rated complications from the disease as the 14th top cause of death in the United States.
Arthritis is characterized by inflammation of one or more joints. Symptoms include joint pain and stiffness and these symptoms generally worsen as you age. There are several different types of arthritis, affecting people in different ways. The types of arthritis that our office has seen include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.
Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal disorder consisting of constant debilitating pain in several “trigger points,” or areas of generalized pain and tenderness. In order to be considered for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, one must exhibit pain to light palpation in 11 of 18 trigger points. Unfortunately, it is unknown what causes fibromyalgia, although several factors are considered including weight, gender, age, and genetics. We often see insurance companies deny claims because of fibromyalgia, citing a lack of objective evidence. While objective evidence generally does not exist in these cases, our office has multiple arguments against the insurance company’s insistence on objective evidence to grant benefits.
Multiple Sclerosis is referred to as an immune-mediated disease which affects the Central Nervous System (CNS). While certain specialists believe MS is an autoimmune disease, other specialists disagree because it is unknown which specific part of the immune system is being attacked by the disease. Symptoms of MS can range from mild to severe and can include numbness and tingling in the limbs, to even paralysis and loss of vision. When a patient has Multiple Sclerosis, the myelin – the fatty sheath protecting the nerve fibers in the CNS – is damaged. This damaged myelin is called “sclerosis.” Myelins surrounding several different nerves are affected, thus the name Multiple Sclerosis.
There are four different courses of Multiple Sclerosis: Relapsing-Remitting MS; Primary-Progressive MS; Secondary-Progressive MS; and Progressive-Relapsing MS. The most common symptoms of MS include fatigue, numbness, gait and balance problems, vision problems, vertigo, pain, cognitive dysfunction, and depression. There are, however, several less common symptoms and you should make sure you cover all symptoms with your physician.
Various types of physical and mental conditions can qualify for coverage under disability benefits, with some of these including:
Client Testimonials
Thanks again for the great job that you and your office did on my appeal. Every thing from your office was handled so expertly and efficiently. You guys do good work in a world where good work is becoming more and more a rarity.@ Don B. 2007 Read more
Kathy J.I just want you to know that you change lives, and help people in a way that is so positive, and because of that I believe you both will always have good things, and good people come your way.@ 2007 Read more
Thanks for working with me and I do appreciate what you've been able to do for me. I know that I would not be where I am, had I not hired you!@ Beth K. December 2007 Read more
Hi Shawn, I just received the February benefit check and was pleasantly surprised. . . . It’s a reaffirmation of the faith I placed in your firm and your people. Top of the line all the way through. I can’t thank you all enough, really, I can’t. You and your firm have been courteous, professional, and, ... Read more
Thank you for representing me. I fully believe I wouldn't be on benefits now without the excellent work you and your team did on my behalf. I really appreciate it. John B. March, 2014 Read more
I HIGHLY recommend Mr Mcdermott and his team. I am disabled and my LTD company was trying everything to drop me from their coverage. I believe Mr Mcdermott and his team saved me. He was upfront about his experience with the insurance company I was fighting and had even finished a case (successfully) for an ... Read more
In the first 15 minutes meeting with Shawn McDermott I was impressed with his compassion for clients and his love for his work. He recognizes that many clients are having financial difficulties because of disabilities and the need for benefits and he is very flexible with regard to billing. The day my daughter and I ... Read more