The Life Insurance Claims Lawyer

There are some occupations that are just plain irritating–and I’m not just talking about mimes and tax collectors, either.  It makes one more than a little depressed to know that we actually need some of society’s professions.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t need experts in ballistics to determine who really shot who?  Or child abuse therapists?  Unfortunately, the world is a very imperfect place.  People do gun one another down and child abuse is a reality.

While it may not be on par with those two examples, the life insurance claims lawyer is another profession that reminds you of our societal imperfections.  These attorneys help the beneficiaries of life insurance policies collect proceeds after the policy-holders’ death.  If you’ve ever lost a loved one (and that’s the situation of most beneficiaries), you know that the last thing anyone really needs at that time is a bunch of red tape and legal hassles.

Unfortunately, those problems often appear and it’s necessary to find a life insurance claims lawyer to handle the situation.

Why Insurance Companies Don’t Always Pay without a Fight

Insurance companies are much happier collecting premiums and sending out statements than they are paying claims.  They’re in business to turn a profit and if they can avoid a payout, it works to the benefit of their bottom line.

When it comes to life insurance, that starts with the “period of contestability.”  After someone gets a life insurance policy, the insurer has a period of time to look over the situation and to change their mind if the policy holder failed to meet the stated standards or if the policy holder made a “material misrepresentation” in their application process.

The length of that period of contestability is governed by state law.

The definition of “material misrepresentations” also varies with the jurisdiction, but there are some generalizations that may make the concept clearer.

One insurance law firm describes “material misrepresentations” like this:

Material misrepresentations are any discrepancies, fallacies, or distortions that would have caused the life insurance company to deny your life insurance policy had they been known at the time of approval. Material misrepresentations can occur within the:

Material misrepresentations must be misrepresentations in your life insurance application that are material enough to cause a life insurance company to deny a life insurance claim.

According the firm, some of the most common misrepresentations may include inaccurate reporting of occupation and employment history, age, tobacco or alcohol use, dangerous hobbies, the presence of other life insurance policies and income.

If a policy holder passes away during the period of contestability, the insurance company will investigate the deceased in search of any misrepresentations that may allow them to void the policy and to avoid making payment to the beneficiary.

How a Life Insurance Claims Attorney Helps

As you can guess, the questions of periods of contestability and material misrepresentations can get rather hairy.  You can also imagine that many insurance companies aren’t all that worried about resolving problems quickly–they’d rather hold onto your money for as long as possible.

That’s why hiring a life insurance claims attorney may be in your best interest.  Legal Match notes that an “attorney can help you fully understand your life insurance policy and explain how your state’s laws affect it.  If you ever have to sue your life insurance provider, an attorney will know exactly how to do it.”

Additionally, some law firms report that insurance companies will use their power and wealth to protect their assets by improperly denying claims and otherwise making life difficult for beneficiaries at what is already a very difficult time.  They claim that beneficiaries are far more likely to receive the money due to them if they hire a life insurance claims attorney.

Finding a Life Insurance Claims Attorney

If you’re in need of a life insurance claims attorney, you’ll want to look for someone who has extensive experience in the subject matter.  Those who specialize in insurance law will be familiar with your state’s laws and will know how to work with the insurance companies to get your benefits released.

While it’s always preferable to work with someone locally who has a strong reputation and good referrals from others you know and trust, you may want to consult an online referral site  to assist you in your search for an insurance claims lawyer.