LEGAL SERVICES
At Bryant Legal Group, our Chicago insurance lawyers are devoted to helping policyholders navigate insurance contracts and resolve insurance claims with their carriers.
We have decades of collective experience working with clients to obtain the benefits they are owed under their disability, life, and long-term care insurance policies. We know how insurance companies operate and understand the obstacles they will put in your way to prevent you from receiving the money to which you are entitled.
Our Chicago insurance law firm works with clients who purchased insurance privately or receive benefits from their employers or unions. We never represent insurance companies — we work exclusively for insureds. This focused experience gives our attorneys the in-depth knowledge and legal tool set necessary to take on complex disputes and hostile insurance company defendants.
We have vast experience battling powerful companies, and our attorneys are well equipped to advise clients in a broad range of insurance law matters, including:
Additionally, our attorneys assist healthcare providers and organizations with whistleblower (qui tam) actions under the False Claims Act.
Insurance contracts are complex agreements drafted by insurance companies. Because these agreements are so technical, it can be extraordinarily difficult for individuals to fully understand policy limitations and exclusions without the advice of an experienced attorney.
Every Chicago insurance attorney at Bryant Legal Group has vast experience interpreting the complicated clauses and provisions included in insurance contracts. We speak the language of the insurance industry and know how to help our clients avoid potential pitfalls that may be buried deep within an insurance contract. We also have the experience and knowledge base to assist insureds who are filing, appealing, and litigating claims in Chicago and throughout the country.
With our broad reach in the marketplace, we can resolve some of these claims without litigation. However, due to the significant financial exposure claims pose to insurance companies and opposing interpretations of case law or the facts, we prepare every case for the possibility of litigation.
Generally speaking, civil litigation can be time-consuming, emotionally frustrating, expensive, and in some cases, quite disruptive. Civil litigation is also public. The details of your dispute, including the medical information related to your disability claim, will be disclosed and available for public access. Insureds who are concerned about their privacy may prefer to resolve their dispute before the case proceeds to trial.
At Bryant Legal Group, we approach insurance disputes comprehensively and aggressively. We believe that by thoroughly preparing for the possibility of trial litigation, we put our clients in an advantageous position during early negotiations. Insurance companies also want to avoid the negatives of trial litigation. As such, if they see that you are well-prepared for trial and that you have strong arguments supporting your claims, they are more likely to award you benefits or negotiate some other favorable settlement.
Consistent and comprehensive advocacy is part of our DNA as a law firm. For example, we work with experts — medical, vocational, and others — to evaluate your benefits claim and determine best-fit strategies that are most likely to help your case.
If litigation is necessary, our Chicago insurance law firm will work to make the experience more palatable. We understand that clients have different goals and budget limitations, so we offer flexible fee arrangements that are personalized to suit the needs and preferences of each client.
In general, insurers, whether in the context of life insurance, disability insurance, or health insurance, employ strategies to avoid having to pay out benefits, even when the claim seems (upon first impression) to be legitimate. This is a common problem, especially in situations involving a significant amount of potential benefits, such as a life insurance payout or a disability insurance payout where the insured is a high-earning professional.
Strategically, if the insurer can impose a significant enough hardship on the insured or claimant, then some portion of policyholders may simply resign themselves to the adverse determination of their insurer. For example, if an insurer grants you only partial disability benefits, they may do so in the hopes that you will not have the willingness or funds to challenge their decision and thereby secure full disability benefits.
Insurers understand that you may be put in a vulnerable position after a claim denial or undervaluation and they engage with insureds with this power dynamic in mind. It’s therefore critical that you consult with qualified insurance lawyers in Chicago who can advocate aggressively on your behalf and communicate your willingness to fight for the benefits that you’re owed.
Of course, insurers are not legally allowed to simply deny a claim or make any other adverse determination without some “reasonable basis” to do so. For example, an insurer may argue that there is insufficient evidence to support your claim for disability benefits, as it’s not clear whether your condition actually prevents you from working in “any occupation.” Even if the facts tend to support your arguments, so long as the insurer can argue that there is room for a reasonable dispute, then they will likely have no problem denying the award of benefits to gain a strategic advantage.
Insurers are required to adhere to a duty of good faith with respect to their insureds. In non-ERISA plans, if the insurer violates their duty of good faith (perhaps by unreasonably delaying the processing of your benefits), then you may have an actionable bad faith claim against the insurer if you purchased your policy in a state where there is bad faith law. If there is evidence of bad faith, you’ll almost certainly want to litigate the claim. Bad faith claims can give rise to significant damage awards, including punitive damages (which multiply the compensatory damage total).
If you have a complex insurance dispute that involves bad faith claims and the wrongful denial of benefits, we encourage you to get in touch with a qualified Chicago insurance law firm for assistance. Firms with specialized insurance dispute experience, such as Bryant Legal Group, are capable of effectively navigating these complex disputes on your behalf.
If you have questions about an insurance policy or need assistance with the submission or appeal of an insurance claim, Bryant Legal Group is here to help. By consulting with one of the experienced Chicago insurance attorneys at our firm, you will be given salient advice and legal guidance on all aspects of the insurance contract, from evaluating new policies to applying for benefits to appealing and litigating claims. Insureds are our only priority, which means that whether we are negotiating a settlement with the insurance carrier, challenging a denial, or taking a dispute to court, you can trust that we will do everything in our power to get you the results you are looking for.
Call an experienced Chicago insurance lawyer at our firm today at (312) 561-3010 or complete our online form so that we can find the solution that best fits your needs and expectations.
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
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Our experienced team has helped professionals across Chicago and Illinois recover millions in unpaid benefits and compensation. Bryant Legal Group takes a practical approach, focusing on your needs.
Short-term disability insurance typically covers a portion of your income for a limited period (usually 3-6 months), while long-term disability insurance provides coverage for extended periods, potentially until retirement age.
You should consult with a disability lawyer as soon as you receive a denial or termination of benefits, or if you’re having difficulty with your insurance company during the claims process.
ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) governs most employer-sponsored disability insurance plans. ERISA claims follow specific federal procedures and timelines that differ significantly from individual disability insurance policies.
Many disability insurance policies include provisions for partial or residual disability benefits if you can work in a limited capacity but cannot perform all the duties of your occupation.
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