Arkansas Disability Insurance Claims

We are a healthcare/professional disability insurance law firm with a national reputation for obtaining successful results for our clients. Our firm has represented physicians, dentists, lawyers, executives and other professionals throughout the country, with the goal of securing and protecting their entitlement to benefits on own-occupation disability insurance policies.

We consult with physicians, dentists, attorneys and business executives filing disability claims throughout Arkansas, including the Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Fort Smith areas. If you’d like to discuss your particular claim with our attorneys, we are happy to set up a free consultation.

Below are some resources for policyholders filing disability insurance claims in Arkansas. If you would like to learn more about the disability claim process or insurance bad faith in other states, please visit our homepage.

Does Arkansas Recognize Insurance Bad Faith?

Arkansas recognizes insurance bad faith in certain instances. As explained by the Arkansas Supreme Court, “Arkansas recognizes a claim for bad faith when ‘an insurance company affirmatively engages in dishonest, malicious, or oppressive conduct in order to avoid a just obligation to its insured.’” Selmon v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 372 Ark. 420, 426, 277 S.W.3d 196, 201–02 (2008) (internal citations omitted).

Additionally, in Arkansas, “[t]he tort of bad faith does not arise from a mere denial of a claim.” Id. Rather, “there must be affirmative misconduct.” Id.

The case excerpts above are not meant to be a comprehensive discussion of each state’s first-party bad faith or disability insurance law. They are merely meant to act as a resource/starting point for those interested in learning more about how insurance bad faith works in their state.

You should always speak with an attorney before making any legal arguments relating to your disability claim.

Notable Arkansas Disability Insurance Cases

Gammill v. Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co., 55 S.W.3d 763, 768 (Ark. 2001) (Arkansas invasive cardiologist was severely injured in an automobile accident, suffered from a stroke, and aggravated an earlier back injury; Provident Life/Unum denied his claim but the court determined he could no longer perform three of the substantial and material duties necessary to being a cardiologist and was totally disabled, even though he could still maintain part of his non-invasive cardiology practice).

Aetna Life Ins. Co. v. Orr, 205 Ark. 566, 169 S.W.2d 651 (1943) (Arkansas internist who practiced both internal medicine and surgery suffered an x-ray burn to his thumb and several fingers of his right hand and could no longer operate; court determined Dr. Orr was engaged in two occupations and held that to recover total disability benefits, a claimant engaged in multiple occupations “must be disabled as to both occupations”).

Common Disability Claim Questions

What should I expect when filing a disability claim?

What issues am I most likely to face handling my disability insurance claim alone?

Why are disability insurance claims made by physicians, dentists and other professionals especially targeted for denial or termination?

My disability claim was just denied. What should I do now?

What can my insurance company do when it is investigating my claim?

Do insurance companies conduct surveillance and, if so, when are they watching?

Why does my insurer want to conduct a field interview?

How can I tell if I have a true own-occupation policy?

What are the different types of disability policies?

Arkansas Federal District Court Locations

Professional disability claims are often filed in, or removed to, Federal Court given the amounts in controversy. When we work with local counsel to be admitted pro hac vice, we identify the courthouse that is closest to you. Below is a list of the primary Federal Courthouses in Arkansas, but there may be satellite courthouses that are closer to where you live.

Little Rock: 500 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201.

Fort Smith: 30 South 6th Street, Room 1038, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901-2437.

Who Do Your Disability Insurance Attorneys Represent?

The lists below provide a representative overview of the types of professionals we represent, the disability companies we file claims with and litigate against, and a non-exhaustive list of some of the disabling conditions our prior clients have had.

Professionals

Physician Claims & Resources | Dentist Claims & Resources

Disability Insurance Companies

Disabling Conditions

The information provided above is offered purely for informational purposes. It is not intended to create or promote an attorney-client relationship, and does not constitute and should not be relied upon as legal advice.

Every claim is unique and the discussion above is only a limited summary of information that may be relevant to your claim. An experienced disability insurance attorney can help you assess your particular disability claim, or potential disability claim, and determine what options are available to you.

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