West Virginia 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 West Virginia, including the Charleston and Huntington 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 West Virginia. If you would like to learn more about the disability claim process or insurance bad faith in other states, please visit our homepage.
Does West Virginia Recognize Insurance Bad Faith?
West Virginia does recognize insurer bad faith in certain circumstances. As explained by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, “[a] first-party bad faith action is one wherein the insured sues his/her own insurer for failing to use good faith in settling a claim . . . filed by the insured.” Loudin v. Nat’l Liab. & Fire Ins. Co., 228 W. Va. 34, 38, 716 S.E.2d 696, 700 (2011) (internal citations omitted). West Virginia “recognizes the right of an insured first-party to bring a bad faith cause of action against his/her insurer under the common law and the West Virginia Unfair Trade Practices Act.” Id.
The West Virginia Supreme Court has also determined that, in West Virginia, “an insurer is not liable for punitive damages by its refusal to pay on a claim unless such refusal is accompanied by a malicious intention to injure or defraud.” Hayseeds, Inc. v. State Farm Fire & Cas., 177 W. Va. 323, 330, 352 S.E.2d 73, 80 (1986), holding modified by Miller v. Fluharty, 201 W. Va. 685, 500 S.E.2d 310 (1997).
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.
Notably West Virginia Disability Cases
Frye v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., No. CIV.A. 3:10-0107, 2010 WL 5343287, at *2 (S.D.W. Va. Dec. 20, 2010) (West Virginia restaurant employee filed a disability claim with MetLife based on musculoskeletal headaches and lower back pain; MetLife approved benefits for a short time and then terminated her claim; the court determined that MetLife acted improperly, reversed the denial of short-term disability benefits, and allowed the policyholder to formally file a claim for long-term disability benefits with MetLife).
Roberts v. Am. Elec. Power Long-Term Disability Plan, No. CIV. A. 3:07-0593 (S.D.W. Va. July 19, 2010) (West Virginia lineman for power company filed disability claim after falling from a forty-five foot power-pole and injuring his back; disability company terminated benefits after paying for 17 years, briefly reinstated benefits, then terminated the claim a second time a few months later due to conflicting medical opinions; the court determined that this was not an abuse of discretion and upheld the denial).
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?
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?
West Virginia 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 West Virginia, but there may be satellite courthouses that are closer to where you live.
Wheeling. Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 1125 Chapline Street, Wheeling, WV 26003.
Charleston. Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, 300 Virginia Street, E., Suite 2400, Charleston, WV 25301.
Huntington. Sidney L. Christie U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building, 845 Fifth Avenue, Room 101, Huntington, WV 25701.
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
Anesthesiologists | Attorneys | Cardiologists | Chief Medical Directors | Chiropractors | Commercial Real Estate Brokers | Corporate Executives | Emergency Medicine | Endodontists | Gastroenterologists | General Dentists | Gynecologists | Internal Medicine | Neurologists | Neurosurgeons | Obstetricians | Ophthalmologists | Oral Surgeons | Orthodontists | Orthopedic Surgeons | Otolaryngologists | Physical Therapists | Podiatrists | Professional Athletes | Prosthodontists | Psychiatrists | Psychologists | Pulmonologists | Radiation Oncologists | Radiologists | Rheumatologists | Veterinarians
Physician Claims & Resources | Dentist Claims & Resources
Disability Insurance Companies
Aetna | AIG | Allstate | Anthem | American General | Ameritas | Berkshire Insurance Group | Boston Mutual | Cigna/LINA | Colonial Life | Connecticut General | Davies Life & Health/Disability Management Services, Inc. | Disability Reinsurance Management | First Unum | Fortis | Great West | Guardian Life | Hartford | Jefferson | John Hancock | Liberty Mutual | Lloyd’s of London | Mass Casualty | Mass Mutual | MetLife | Monarch | Mutual of Omaha | National Life of Vermont | New York Life | New England Life | Northwestern Mutual Life | Ohio National | Paul Revere | Penn Mutual | Phoenix Life Insurance | Principal Life | Provident | Prudential | Reassurance America | Reliance | Reliance Standard | Sedgwick | Standard | Sun Life | The Equitable Life | Transamerica | Trustmark | Trustmark Disability Advisors | Union Central | Unum | UnumProvident
Disabling Conditions
Aneurysms | Anxiety/Panic Attacks | Angina Pectoris/Ischemia | Arthritis (Osteo, Psoriatic, Rheumatoid) | Atrial Fibrillation (AF) | Autoimmune Disorders | Bipolar Disorder | Brachial Plexus Injuries | Bulging Discs (Cervical/Lumbar) | Bursitis | Cancer | Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) | Cervical/Neck Pain | Crohn’s Disease/IBD | Complex Regional Pain Syndrome | Congestive Heart Failure | Coronary Artery Disease | Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) | Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) | Dislocated Elbow/Shoulder | Dislocated Hip/Hip Replacement | Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) | Essential Tremors | Focal Dystonia | Ganglion Cysts | Glaucoma | Hand/Arm Pain – NOS | Head Trauma/Cognitive Difficulties | Hearing Loss | Herniated Discs (Cervical/Lumbar) | Ligament Tears | Long-Haul COVID | Lumbar/Back Pain | Lyme Disease | Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) | Macular Degeneration | Meniere’s Disease | Migraines | Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | Musculoskeletal Disorders | Myasthenia Gravis (MG) | Myelopathy (Cervical/Lumbar) | Myofascial Pain Syndrome | Nerve Impingement/Entrapment | Neuroma | Orthostatic Hypertension/Hypotension | Osteoarthritis | Paresthesia/Dysesthesia | Parkinson’s Disease | Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction | Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) | Radiculopathy (Cervical/Lumbar) | Repetitive Stress Injuries | Retinal Detachment/Floaters | Rotator Cuff Injury/Tears | Sciatica | Scoliosis | Serotonin Syndrome | Shoulder/Back/Neck Pain – NOS | Sleep Apnea | Spondylolisthesis | Spondylosis | Stenosis (Spinal/Foraminal) | Stroke | Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) | Traumatic Injuries | Tumors | Ulnar Neuropathy | Vertigo/BPPV | Visual Impairment
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.