Spokane Disability Lawyer
Disability is a growing concern for Washingtonians. According to the Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation’s Disability & DVR Statistics Report dated July 2017, between 2011 and 2015, the population of people with disabilities grew faster than the State’s overall population, 8.2% compared to 5.2%. As of the time of the report, 908,818 individuals with disabilities were living in Washington State, representing 12.9% of the State’s population. Spokane, WA is the second most populated city in the state of Washington and home to many of the state’s disabled population.
In their time of need, many Spokane, WA residents have no choice but to apply for disability insurance and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits to support themselves and their families. Unfortunately, many of those who apply for assistance will be denied the benefits they are entitled to. If your disability case has been denied or terminated then the Ortiz Law Firm can help you get the benefits you paid for. Our Spokane disability lawyer represents Spokane Social Security Disability and disability insurance claimants as well as those throughout the state of Washington.
Ortiz Law Firm Handles Spokane Long Term Disability Claims
Our primary area of practice is long-term disability insurance claims, and our team has experience dealing with the various tricks and tactics that Washington’s long-term disability insurance carriers use to avoid paying the benefits. Led by Board Certified Disability Attorney Nick Ortiz, our firm focuses on assisting claimants that have been wrongfully denied disability insurance benefits. We help with long-term disability appeals and, if necessary, we will file a lawsuit against the insurance carrier.
We are not intimidated by any of the major insurance companies or the millions of dollars in resources at their disposal. If you’re ready to fight back against the insurance company then contact our office to schedule a free consultation with disability lawyer Nick Ortiz. Call our office today at (866) 853-7210 or contact us online.
Long Term Disability, ERISA, and Disability Insurance Denials in Spokane, WA
Disability law is complex, especially if your claim is governed by ERISA. When appealing a long-term disability denial, one of the first things you should do is determine whether your insurance policy is an individual disability policy or part of a group plan. Individual policies are not typically governed by ERISA.
You likely have an individual disability policy if you are self-employed or you purchased a policy through an insurance agent or broker. If so, you may not be required to go through the appeals process. If your claim for benefits was wrongfully denied, you may have the right to proceed directly to filing a lawsuit. Claimants with individual disability insurance policies are often entitled to a more traditional litigation process, including a trial with a jury and the right to call witnesses to testify in support of your claim. This is unique to non-ERISA lawsuits.
The process is very different for those who are denied benefits under a group or employer-sponsored plan. These disability plans are typically governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Under ERISA, you are required to file at least one appeal. If your appeal was filed within the required time frame and denied, only then can you file an ERISA lawsuit.
The litigation process for an ERISA lawsuit is very different from that of a claim filed under an individual disability policy. You do not have a right to a trial with a jury or the right to call witnesses. The judge reviewing your case will be limited to the documents contained in the administrative record and will refuse to consider any evidence that was not previously submitted as part of your initial application or administrative appeal. Failure to submit the appropriate evidence at the appropriate time could be detrimental to the outcome of your case.
As you can see, ERISA laws are extremely complex, and for that reason, we recommend that you consult with an attorney that has experience handling such claims.
Spokane, WA Courts, Government, and Department of Insurance Information
Eastern District of Washington| United States District Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Official government website for the State of Washington
Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
Spokane Social Security Disability Lawyers
The Social Security Administration will soon be conducting hearings using the Microsoft Teams platform. This will make it easier than ever for a Social Security Disability lawyer to represent claimants across the country. Nick Ortiz is a Board Certified Social Security Disability lawyer ready to fight for the benefits you deserve. Although our office is based in Pensacola, Florida, we do represent Spokane Social Security Disability claimants as well as those in the surrounding area of Washington. Our Social Security Disability lawyers represent SSDI claimants at the following stages of the process:
Social Security Disability Benefits Claim Resources and Washington Locations
Directions to the local Social Security Administration Office serving Spokane, Washington
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Spokane Disability Lawyer
Call our office at (866) 853-7210 to schedule a free consultation and find out more about how we help those with long-term disability and Social Security Disability benefits claims in Spokane, Washington, and the surrounding area. We offer a free consultation if your long-term disability claim has been wrongfully denied or terminated, or if you have a Social Security Disability Insurance claim at the initial, reconsideration, or hearing stage of the process.
We offer a No Recovery, Zero Fee Guarantee – meaning we only get paid if you get paid! So there is no risk if you decide to hire an attorney to assist you with your disability claim. You won’t pay any fees unless your case is successful. You only have a limited time to appeal a denial, so call the Ortiz Law Firm today at (866) 853-4512 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.