Experienced Pennsylvania Nerve Damage Lawyer Helps Professionals Obtain Full Benefits Under Their Disability Insurance Policies
Nerve damage, also referred to as neuropathy, can have a profound effect on your life and yet show no physical symptoms at all. The nerves in the human body carry vital communication between the body and the brain, and when that communication is disrupted, it can impair functioning in various ways.
Regardless of the source of the damage or the impact on your life, however, one predictable feature of nerve damage injuries is that insurance companies will insist that they do not exist. And that can make it very difficult to obtain benefits under your disability insurance policy when nerve injuries prevent you from practicing your profession.
A Pennsylvania nerve damage lawyer at Seltzer & Associates understands how to overcome the objections raised by disability insurance providers. For decades, we have devoted our practice to securing benefits owed to professionals according to the terms of their disability insurance policies. Whether you need assistance filing your initial claim or you have already filed and received a denial or seemingly endless requests for more information, our team is ready to help.
How Nerve Damage Occurs
Neuropathy can be caused by a wide variety of factors. Autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and diseases of the liver or kidneys frequently lead to gradual damage to nerve tissue, sometimes due to reduced blood flow and other times due to infection or the body’s immune response. Physical trauma can also lead to the gradual development of nerve damage through repetitive movements, but a sudden injury during an accident or surgery also frequently leads to nerve damage.
Exposure to heavy metals, chemotherapy, and vitamin deficiencies can also cause neurological damage. When physicians can pinpoint the cause, they may be able to slow the progression of damage and sometimes even reverse it. But unfortunately, neuropathy often cannot be treated successfully, and the effects grow worse over time.
The Impact of Nerve Damage on Work Performance for Professionals
When nerves have been damaged, professionals often suffer symptoms such as:
- Reduction in fine motor skills
- Loss of grip strength
- Impaired balance and coordination
- Chronic pain including burning sensations, tingling, and persistent shooting pains
- Fatigue
These symptoms significantly impair a professional’s ability to perform basic tasks critical to their job. It can be difficult to stand for prolonged periods or to complete tasks that require fine motor skills such as typing. Persistent pain often disrupts sleep, leading to exhaustion that impairs concentration. Even when a professional can manage tasks that are critical to their profession, they often work at a reduced pace and can continue working only for a limited time. The ability to earn through their practice is significantly reduced as a result.
Options for Disability Benefits as a Professional
When nerve damage makes it impossible to work at any type of job, professionals may have several options for seeking disability benefits. If the neuropathy limits the ability to practice the profession but does not preclude performing a different job or practicing on a limited basis, there may still be options for receiving benefits, depending on the situation.
Social Security Disability Insurance provides benefits for those who paid into the system through payroll taxes for approximately ten years. However, these benefits are limited, and you must be able to prove that you are unable to engage in any type of gainful employment, which is a tough hurdle for educated professionals.
Better options are available through private disability insurance, but it must be purchased before the disability begins. Group plans governed by ERISA are often offered through employers, but because these plans are negotiated for numerous individuals, each individual has no control over the policy’s terms.
To gain the most protection, professionals should consider private individual disability insurance and obtain coverage that provides benefits if they are unable to practice their own occupation, rather than coverage that applies only if they are unable to practice any occupation. Professionals generally also have the option to purchase residual disability coverage that provides benefits if they are able to work to a limited degree but are not able to equal the earnings at the level before the onset of the disability.
FAQs About Nerve Damage and Disability Insurance Claims
What specific medical evidence do I need for a nerve damage claim?
You will need evidence to demonstrate the extent of your condition, how that condition limits your abilities, and why those abilities are necessary for you to be able to work. The specific evidence will depend on your situation, but an experienced Pennsylvania nerve damage lawyer at Seltzer & Associates can review the details and provide detailed guidance and assistance in obtaining the right evidence.
I have “invisible” symptoms like brain fog and chronic pain. Is that enough to qualify for benefits?
While it is possible to qualify for benefits because “invisible” symptoms of nerve damage prevent you from working, it is much more difficult to demonstrate your eligibility. You will need proof that your symptoms interfere with abilities needed to work. An attorney familiar with the requirements of disability insurance providers can help you collect and present this evidence in a convincing manner.
Can I receive Pennsylvania Workers’ Comp and Disability at the same time?
While it is possible to receive benefits from two sources, it is likely that benefits from one source will be reduced to account for the amount you are receiving from the other source. For instance, SSDI payments will be reduced if your income from workers’ comp is over the threshold, and payments made through private disability insurance policies will also usually be reduced to account for amounts received through workers’ comp.
Work with a Knowledgeable Pennsylvania Nerve Damage Lawyer to Get the Most from Your Disability Insurance Policy
When you have purchased a disability insurance policy to protect yourself in case of disability, you expect the insurance company to pay when a condition such as nerve damage prevents you from working. However, disability insurance providers frequently deny claims and insist that the conditions are not covered under the policy. Sometimes, that statement is correct, but often it is just an attempt to evade contractual responsibilities.
At Seltzer & Associates, our experienced disability insurance attorneys can review your policy and fight effectively to obtain the full benefits you should be receiving under its terms. For a free consultation to learn more, call us at 888-699-4222 or contact us online now.