If you are the beneficiary of a loved one’s life insurance policy, you may have faith that this policy will pay out benefits when your loved one dies. On the other hand, you may be concerned that the benefits would be denied based on details in the fine print that neither you nor the insured knew about or understood. This concern may very well be valid in some situations.
At ERISA Insurance Claim Attorneys, our Baton Rouge life insurance lawyer has over 30 years of experience working on cases like yours. We’re confident that an experienced Baton Rouge intoxication exclusion lawyer from our team can help you get the benefits you’re owed.
Basics of Insurance Policy Contracts
Insurance policies are legally binding contracts between the insured and the carrier. They are based on the concept of good faith, which means both parties are forthright and honest with each other. Upon approval, the insured has the right to accept or reject the policy. If they accept it, they agree to the terms of the contract.
In addition, individual states have their own regulatory department for insurance that governs how policies can be written. This department also reviews policies to ensure they are aligned with the state’s insurance laws.
Our Baton Rouge intoxication exclusion attorney understands the ins and outs of policy contracts and can provide the representation you need to recover benefits despite exclusion policies. Let’s take a closer look at these types of policies and what a lawyer can do to help.
Intoxication Exclusions
Insurance companies in the United States may add their own exclusions to their policies, taking into account the laws in each state. These exclusions state circumstances under which they would not pay on a claim, even one overseen by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ERISA. The law allows insurance carriers to use intoxication exclusions for life insurance.
This law means that life insurance companies could potentially deny a claim if there is evidence that alcohol consumption was either directly or indirectly related to the death.
If your claim is being denied due to such a policy, reach out to an intoxication exclusion attorney from Baton Rouge for assistance.
While more than a dozen states are starting to make alcohol exclusions illegal, about three dozen states either implicitly or explicitly allow intoxication exclusions in ERISA policies for health, accidental death and dismemberment, disability, and life insurance.
Interpretation of Exclusions
For beneficiaries whose life insurance claim has been denied due to the intoxication exclusion, all hope may not be lost. Insurance policy language can often be interpreted in more than one way. Carriers might interpret it to their own advantage, but their interpretation may not always be correct or legal.
An experienced intoxication exclusion lawyer from Baton Rouge may be able to determine when a life insurance company is avoiding the truth or trying to interpret its policy to its benefit. If they do identify one of these issues, they could advocate on a policyholder’s behalf to get them the benefits they need.
How a Baton Rouge Intoxication Exclusion Lawyer Can Help You
Since 1995, our Baton Rouge intoxication exclusion attorneys have taken on cases like yours and fought for fair outcomes and life-changing benefits. No matter how difficult your case is, you can count on our dedicated team to pursue the best possible conclusion to your case.
Here’s what our experienced attorneys can do to help you during this challenging time:
- Review policy terms: Our team can analyze your insurance policy to determine if the intoxication exclusion policy applies and determine what your best course of action is.
- Investigate circumstances: Our skilled team of intoxication exclusion lawyers in Baton Rouge will examine accident reports, witness statements, and surveillance footage to challenge the insurance company’s claims.
- Gather medical evidence: We will obtain medical records, toxicology reports, and expert opinions to contest intoxication claims and prove alternative causes of injury or death.
- Negotiate with insurers: Our attorneys will also engage with insurance adjusters to push for fair settlements and avoid unnecessary claim denials or underpayments.
- File appeals: If your claim was denied, our team will handle the appeals process, ensuring all necessary documentation and arguments are presented effectively.
- Take Legal Action: We won’t back down from filing a lawsuit against the insurance company if it acted in bad faith by wrongfully enforcing intoxication exclusion to deny a legitimate claim.
- Represent your best interests: We’ll stand by your side throughout the entire claims process and won’t stop fighting until we get the benefits you’re owed.
- Provide Peace of Mind: With our highly experienced and award-winning Baton Rouge intoxication exclusion attorney on your side, you’ll rest assured knowing your case is in excellent hands.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Baton Rouge Intoxication Exclusion Attorney
While intoxication exclusion for life insurance may be allowed by law, the interpretation of intoxication and whether or not the circumstances of the death were due to intoxication could be debatable. If your claim has been denied on the basis of intoxication exclusion, don’t hesitate to reach out to ERISA Insurance Claim Attorneys.
Our knowledgeable team is well-versed in federal and state insurance laws. We know how policy language can be difficult to understand and interpret, which is why we’re here to help you make sense of this difficult situation.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Baton Rouge intoxication exclusion lawyer and learn more about our services.