Pittsburgh Disability Insurance Bad Faith Claim Lawyer

A Disability Insurance Bad Faith Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, Can Help You Fight Claim Denials, Payment Delays, and Benefits Disputes

When you’re too sick or injured to work, disability insurance can be a lifeline. Disability insurance provides a way to support your family while you recover, but the peace of mind this coverage is meant to offer can dwindle when the insurance company denies claims unfairly or delays much-needed payments. At AlpernSchubert, P.C., we stand up to disability insurers that let their policyholders down. With a Pittsburgh disability insurance bad faith claim lawyer on your side, it’s possible to take legal action and receive every remedy Pennsylvania law allows.

To ensure that every policyholder has the opportunity to consult professional legal counsel about their rights, we offer a free, confidential consultation. You don’t have to keep waiting for the insurance company to make things right. We’re here to help you understand your options and, if it’s the right choice for you, file a bad faith claim that allows you to pursue remedies beyond your contractual benefits. Contact us today to get started.

Get the Compensation and Justice You Deserve

Contact Our Attorneys Today

Disability Claim Delays, Denials, and Disputes in Pittsburgh, PA

Many families in Western Pennsylvania can’t afford to be out of work, especially at the precise time that medical bills begin piling up. That’s why many workers, particularly those with children or other dependents, maintain disability insurance that provides continued income while they are unable to work.

Types of Disability Insurance

In PA, there are numerous types of private disability insurance available:

• Individual disability insurance: Policies you personally purchased through an insurance company
• Group disability insurance: Coverage offered through an employer or another group
• Short-term disability insurance: Policies that address disabilities that restrict your ability to work on a temporary basis, often less than a year, and apply after a brief waiting period (typically one to two weeks)
• Long-term disability insurance: Insurance coverage for illnesses or injuries that impact you for a longer span of time, often measured in years, and don’t kick in until you have been disabled for a matter of months

Which type of policy you have, and the specific terms of that policy, matter. These details determine when coverage applies and what limitations, exclusions, or waiting periods are relevant.

Bad Faith Conduct in Processing Disability Claims

Regardless of the type of policy, companies that provide disability insurance coverage in Pittsburgh have an obligation to handle claims submitted by their policyholders in good faith. That means conducting a proper and unbiased investigation, processing claims and responding to communications within a timely manner, interpreting policy language in reasonably fair ways, and providing the promised coverage as long as the disability meets established criteria. Failing to uphold these obligations can constitute bad faith, providing grounds for legal action and further remedies under state law.

In the context of disability insurance claims, bad faith conduct in Pennsylvania often means actions such as:

• Misrepresenting the policy language pertaining to what is covered, what waiting periods apply, or what constitutes a “partial” or “total” disability
• Denying claims that should be covered under the policy without a clear and specific justification or for reasons that constitute minor technicalities
• Arguing that evidence or documentation of disability is insufficient despite having been provided with medical records and other relevant documentation
• Denying a claim for disability benefits without reviewing medical records, treating doctors’ opinions, or conducting any type of exams or investigations
• Basing decisions solely on the reports of biased independent medical examinations instead of the opinions of the treating physician
• Cherry-picking only evidence that supports a claim denial or lower benefit payment and ignoring documentation that supports paying the claim fully and fairly
• Delaying claim processing or payment deliberately or unreasonably, including repeatedly requesting the same documentation, keeping cases stuck in lengthy review phases, or taking months to process claims despite being provided necessary documentation
• Terminating ongoing benefits improperly, especially when no documentation of medical improvements has been submitted or when medical records and physician statements don’t indicate sufficient improvement to return to work

For many families, a claim denial is shocking and confusing. You have paid for this coverage, and now that you need it, the insurer that has benefited from collecting your premiums refuses to provide the promised benefits.

You may not know what to do next or what options you have, but our Pittsburgh disability insurance bad faith claim lawyer can help you understand your rights and the recourse available to you under Pennsylvania law. We won’t let an insurer deny coverage unfairly or keep dragging out processing and payment of benefits unlawfully. With extensive experience handling bad faith insurance issues of all kinds, we’re prepared to fight back on your behalf.

What Remedies Can a Disability Insurance Bad Faith Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, Get for Injured Workers?

Ideally, every insurance company would promptly pay out its policyholders’ valid claims for disability benefits. However, when that doesn’t happen, policyholders in Pennsylvania have legal recourse through a statutory bad faith insurance claim.

Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 8371, courts in Pennsylvania that find that an insurer has acted in bad faith toward the insured may:

• Award interest that amounts to the prime rate of interest plus 3% on the value of the claim, starting from when the claim was filed
• Impose punitive damages that are meant to punish the insurer and are paid to the insured
• Require the insurance company to pay the legal fees of the insured, including court costs and attorney’s fees

These remedies are in addition to the disability benefits you are entitled to. With a Pittsburgh disability insurance bad faith claim lawyer fighting for maximum compensation, you could receive remedies that amount to more than the benefits that were initially denied.

How AlpernSchubert, P.C., Can Help

At AlpernSchubert, P.C., we understand everything you’re going through: the pain and anxiety that accompany a disabling injury or illness, the financial hardships you’re facing while you wait for disability benefits to be paid, and the frustration of dealing with an insurer that doesn’t want to help. We’re here to provide full-service legal support, including:

• An initial consultation during which we review your unique circumstances and provide personalized guidance at no cost
• A review of your disability insurance policy language, including any exclusions, limitations, and waiting periods
• An analysis of the facts of your circumstances and the evidence that pertains to how the insurer handled your claim
• A legal strategy and arguments formulated just for you, based on the specific facts of your case
• Presentation of your case in a settlement demand letter and representation in any subsequent negotiations
• Lawsuit initiation and representation in any related legal proceedings, including a trial, if necessary

Each case we handle is unique. Whether you claim settles early, proceeds to litigation, or goes all the way to trial, having an experienced disability insurance bad faith attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, on your side provides peace of mind and the path to the most promising outcome possible.

Why Choose AlpernSchubert, P.C., as Your Pittsburgh Disability Insurance Bad Faith Claim Lawyer?

Throughout Western Pennsylvania, policyholders turn to our team, backed by more than 100 years of combined legal experience, for help standing up to disability insurance companies that deny or delay claims unfairly. Our handling of all types of bad faith insurance claims, our focus on plaintiffs’-side work, and our commitment to the client experience set our law firm apart.

Comprehensive Legal Assistance for Bad Faith Insurance Issues

Bad faith litigation in Pittsburgh can encompass claims against insurers that offer many types of coverage, from health, life, and disability policies to homeowners' and auto insurance. Our firm has a reputation for handling more bad faith insurance claims on the plaintiff’s side in Western Pennsylvania than anyone else. We represent policyholders and beneficiaries in all types of insurance bad faith claims, and we understand the nuances that can have a critical impact on your outcome.

Exclusive Representation for Plaintiffs, Not Insurance Companies

Many law firms represent both plaintiffs and insurance companies, but not us. Our team is committed to fighting for the rights and benefits of the insured rather than the profits of insurers. For us, it’s about integrity, honesty, and doing what’s right. We won’t help insurers avoid their obligations or betray the policyholders that put their trust in them.

A Client Experience That’s as Good as It Gets

No one wants to have to go through a disability bad faith claim. Not only have you been sick or injured, but the coverage you counted on to provide for your family wasn’t paid as promised, causing you even more stress. At AlpernSchubert, we’re dedicated to providing honest communication, helpful service, and an experience that’s as good as it gets. What you’re going through right now is difficult, but we provide legal support to make it more manageable.

Contact a Pittsburgh Disability Insurance Bad Faith Claim Lawyer at AlpernSchubert, P.C., Today for a Free Case Review

Delays in receiving the disability benefits you’re entitled to can make it difficult to support your family and afford your regular expenses, much less the added costs of medical bills. Recovery is already stressful enough without having to worry about frustrating interactions with the insurance company and financial hardships that you believed you were protected from.

That’s why we urge policyholders to act quickly when they suspect that a disability insurance company is handling their claim in bad faith. By taking advantage of a free consultation as early as possible, you can get help managing this situation and recovering the benefits and legal remedies you are entitled to sooner rather than later.

For help from a disability insurance bad faith attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, contact AlpernSchubert, P.C., online or call 412-556-2326 today.