Newfield Law Group was recently retained after a client referred a good friend who was facing a disability challenge.
The career of a well-respected dentist was ending due to a constellation of orthopedic issues that had been valiantly battled through for many years. When the dentist was no longer able to continue working following their most recent orthopedic event, surgery was required to repair the upper extremity via cervical (neck) intervention.
The dentist attempted to return to work following a period of recovery post-surgery, but they were never able to regain the necessary fine motor skills and pain free functionality to perform their occupational duties effectively and safely.
With a large practice that had been built over many years, a key concern was to maintain the practice’s viability for transition – whether a sale, or a replacement. Our client had coverage both individually and through a business overhead expense policy, so we were able to guide the dentist on the optimal ways to consider all issues and navigate their claims. Dealing with multiple insurance companies can pose challenges unless handled adeptly, and we navigated each claim in its own silo, while leveraging our support as universally as possible.
We secured medical support from the treating doctor, addressing functional limitations which were specific and translatable to the occupation, including limitations on reaching, fine manipulation, and movements of the neck which are required to effectively perform as a dentist. Having the doctor understand and appreciate the functional requirements of our client’s work was critical to the process.
Developing a powerful description of their occupation and coupling that with how and why medically and functionally our client was impacted and impaired by these conditions, we were able to develop the necessary medical and vocational support to secure approvals of the claims with both of their carriers.
Our involvement in the process included preparing our client for an interview with their multiple insurance companies and guiding the process for our client. Jason Newfield, a leading long term disability insurance attorney, served as the face of the claim and fielded all claim inquiries. The dentist didn’t have to deal directly with the insurance company, avoiding the additional stress that always accompanies this part of the claims process.
We were able to timely and effectively develop the necessary responses to satisfy our client’s proof of loss and address all claim inquiries.
With our representation and guidance, our client is in the process of wrapping up a smooth transition of their highly successful practice and is on claim, receiving lifetime disability benefits.
