About Liberty Mutual Disability Insurance
Why Does Liberty Mutual Deny Long Term Disability Claims?
Receiving a Liberty Mutual disability claim denial often leaves policyholders stunned. You know that your disability has left you unable to work, so how could the insurance company deny your benefits?
The frustrating truth is that most insurers don’t deny claims out of cruelty or vindictiveness. Disability denials are often made for one of several predictable reasons:
- Application errors
- Missed deadlines
- Insufficient medical documentation
- Conditions that don’t meet your policy’s definition of disability
- “Any occupation” language
- Policy exclusionary periods
- Social media activity that contradicts your disability claim
A denial doesn’t necessarily mean that your illness or disability is illegitimate. It likely means that your denial was based on a bureaucratic technicality.
That’s actually good news, because it means you may be able to appeal a Liberty Mutual disability insurance decision. Fields Law can help you do exactly that.
How a Liberty Mutual Disability Denial Lawyer Can Help Your Appeal
With a short window for appeals, you don’t have time to waste. A Fields Law lawyer familiar with Liberty Mutual disability claim denials can help streamline the appeal process for you.
We start by breaking down your denial letter.
In that letter, Liberty Mutual will list the specific reason for your denial.
The reason can be as simple as missing documentation. It could also be because of restrictive language in your policy, like “own occupation” and “any occupation” standards.
Whatever reasons they give, our attorneys will review your denial letter alongside your policy documents and prepare an appeal that directly addresses them.
Your appeal documents will be professionally prepared, tailored to your claim, and submitted within ERISA’s strict deadlines.
We can also help gather additional medical records and statements from your treating physicians and vocational professionals that break down how your disability has affected your ability to work.
Together, we’ll build a comprehensive appeal that counters Liberty Mutual’s reasons for denial and puts you in a stronger position when pursuing an appeal.
Understanding ERISA and Liberty Mutual Disability Appeals
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) governs most Long Term Disability policies provided by employers. This federal law gives policyholders the right to challenge a denial and even sue for benefits and breaches of fiduciary duty.
However, once a policyholder has been denied, a strict timeline for filing an appeal begins. Missing the appeal deadline can forfeit your right to appeal or further pursue your claim.
Working with a Long Term Disability appeal attorney familiar with Liberty Mutual gives you the best chance to have your claim professionally prepared and filed within ERISA deadlines.
But ERISA is about more than just deadlines. If your claim must eventually proceed to litigation, ERISA also determines what evidence will be allowed in court.
That makes it especially important to gather additional medical and vocational evidence to support your disability claim before you submit your appeal.
Fields Law will help you create a detailed record of your disability that includes medical records and statements from your physician and vocational experts that explain how your condition limits or prevents you from working.
Our goal is to create a comprehensive body of evidence that presents a strong appeal, backed by evidence that can be used in the event of a lawsuit against Liberty Mutual for disability claim denial.
How Fields Law’s Liberty Mutual LTD Appeal Lawyers Work
Fields Law attorneys have helped clients nationwide understand their options and protect their rights through both Short Term Disability (STD) and Long Term Disability (LTD) appeals.
Our approach is simple. We break down your appeal into four distinct phases:
Case Review and Strategy Building
The first step is a comprehensive review of your case, starting with your denial letter. We review the reasons for denial against your actual policy and claim file, creating the foundation for your appeal.
Medical Evidence Collection
Our Liberty Mutual Long Term Disability attorneys will begin gathering additional medical evidence from your treating physicians. We may also seek independent medical examinations from physicians who can objectively determine your work capacity. We may also suggest working with a vocational expert to also help gather additional evidence and opinions to support your case for disability.
Submit the Appeal
ERISA provides a limited 180-day window to appeal a disability denial, often beginning from the date of your denial letter. Fields Law will professionally prepare your appeal, backed by strong medical and vocational evidence, so there are no technical reasons to deny you again.
Proceed to Litigation If Necessary
If your claim continues to be denied in spite of strong supporting evidence, we may pursue legal action against Liberty Mutual on your behalf.
Without help, the Liberty Mutual insurance disability appeal process can feel overwhelming. Fields Law offers the professional support you need to move the process forward efficiently. Don’t put the appeal off any longer. Contact Fields Law today.
Real Clients, Real Results: Examples of Past Long Term Disability Appeals for Liberty Mutual Financial Group
Fields Law has represented hundreds of clients who have been denied disability benefits from Liberty Mutual, as well as other major insurers.
We help clients:
- Appeal disability denials and pursue available benefits
- Pursue back-pay or lump-sum payments in certain cases
- Appeal benefits terminations and seek reinstatement of benefits when possible
Below are just a few of the successes that Fields Law attorneys for Liberty Mutual disability claims have had:
Benefits Reinstated
Margie – Warehouse Stocker – Batesburg, South Carolina
Disability: Neurological Condition from Stroke
Problem: Margie, a warehouse stocker, became disabled after suffering a stroke. Her job required her to climb ladders, perform heavy lifting, and spend almost the entire shift on her feet. Her insurer paid her claim for just over a year before denying benefits. They based the denial on recent treatment notes where the claimant’s treating doctor failed to note any sort of neurological deficits, despite problems with imbalance and prolonged walking.
Success—Reinstatement of Benefits: Margie turned to Fields Law Firm to appeal the decision. Our attorneys reached out to the medical staff at our client’s primary care clinic and requested a narrative report documenting her severe ongoing neurological issues. This report was submitted with updated medical records and vocational information documenting the heavy duties required at the warehouse stocking job. The appeal was so strong that Liberty Mutual reinstated benefits just a week after receiving the documentation. Our client was able to continue treating her condition with the financial burden of the denial behind her.
Successful Appeal of Denial
Kenneth – Line Haul Trucker – Hockingport, Ohio
Disability: Heart Failure, Spinal Stenosis
Problem: A line haul trucker based out of Ohio, Kenneth developed debilitating conditions that limited his ability to perform any sort of sustained activity. He applied for Long Term Disability benefits with his insurer and received an initial favorable decision. He was paid benefits for a year under the Own Occupation definition. However, he was denied benefits when Liberty Mutual determined he was able to perform some clerical work in the national economy.
Success—Denial Overturned: Kenneth hired Fields Law Firm to appeal the wrongful determination. Our attorneys gathered substantial evidence that our client was unable to perform even sedentary work on a full-time basis. Additionally, our attorneys recognized that our client had a very limited vocational background and hired a vocational consultant to review whether our client would be a competitive applicant for employment. The vocational expert’s report was submitted together with the medical documentation resulting in a quick favorable decision for our client.
Successful Appeal of Denial
Sterling – Retail Merchandiser – Clay, New York
Disability: Chronic Pain, Neuropathy, Low Back Pain, Radiculopathy
Problem: A Retail Merchandiser from New York, Sterling suffered from severe back pain, radiculopathy, and neuropathy in both feet. His pain was so intense that powerful painkillers did not provide relief. He was forced to stop working. He applied for Long Term Disability benefits through his insurer at work but the insurance company denied his application, saying that he could return to his job.
Success—Denial Overturned: Worried about his lost income, and still immobilized by his condition, Sterling called Fields Law for help. Our team obtained the claim file from Liberty Mutual and found that they had misinterpreted our client’s physical capabilities. We requested clarification from our client’s doctors and filed a strong appeal to Liberty Mutual based on their opinions. The insurance company changed their decision and our client received a lump-sum payment for back-pay and ongoing monthly benefits. He is pleased with the help that Fields Law provided and is happy to be done fighting Liberty Mutual.
What Happens When You Contact Fields Law?
Many claimants who try to appeal a Liberty Mutual disability insurance denial without a lawyer are quickly overwhelmed by the process.
When you reach out to Fields Law, you’ll work with a team that can guide you through the claim and appeal process.
Our Liberty Mutual disability lawyers will begin by reviewing your denial letter to understand the reason for Liberty Mutual’s decision.
Next, we’ll discuss your deadlines for filing an appeal, explain the documentation needed, and answer your questions about the process.
Our initial consultation is free. We’ll discuss the specifics of your case, with no obligation to move forward. We help you understand your situation, so you can determine if an appeal is the right decision for you.
When you decide to move forward with Fields Law, we move quickly to get your appeal in before ERISA deadlines.
cases won nationwide
lawsuits filed
in benefits recovered last year alone
See the full list of our case wins and lawsuit results here
Denied Long Term Disability Benefits by Liberty Mutual? Fields Law Can Help
If you’ve been denied disability benefits from Liberty Mutual, you may feel frustrated. You may feel lost. But you’re not alone.
Fields Law’s Liberty Mutual Long Term Disability attorneys have represented clients from coast to coast. While each case is unique and results may vary, our team understands how insurance companies like Liberty Mutual work, and why they deny claims.
That experience helps us build strong appeals for our clients that challenge Liberty Mutual’s decision with medical evidence and supportive documentation.
Remember, there is a strict timeline to appeal a disability denial. Don’t wait until it’s too late to pursue available benefits.
Local Experience. National Reputation.
Successfully representing clients in all 50 states has given us a depth of local experience and a national reputation of winning for our clients
Nationwide Long Term Disability Insurance Claim Attorneys
Steve Fields
Founder | CEO | Attorney
Blake Bauer
Principal | Attorney
Mark Klotzbuecher
Principal | Attorney
F. Cameron Bliss
Attorney
Kendra Bredeson
Attorney
Jon Comuzzi
Attorney
Chase Hedrick
Attorney
Brenna Karrer
Attorney
Pounnaphone Phomtalikhith
Attorney
Joe Scanlon
Attorney
Jeff Schleeter
Attorney
Hannah Strong
Attorney
Annie Surbaugh
Principal | Attorney
Joyce Trudeau
Principal | Attorney
