Life Insurance Denials Lawyer in San Antonio, TX

Name: Scheuerman Law Firm, PLLC
Telephone: (210) 236-0500
Price range: Free Consultation

Life insurance policyholders pay substantial premiums to provide financial security for their family members and dependents in case of unforeseen death.

San Antonio Life Insurance Denial Attorney

When insurers deny valid claims, it can cause tremendous financial and emotional stress. Some insurance companies use tactics to delay or deny life insurance claims at a difficult time when beneficiaries are already dealing with the loss of a loved one. Our skilled life insurance denials attorney in San Antonio can help you navigate the process of challenging a denial and securing the compensation you are entitled to receive.

What Are the Most Common Reasons for Life Insurance Denials?

Insurers deny life insurance claims for various reasons. Although some denials are legitimate, others are unjust or based on disputable technicalities. The following are some of the most common reasons for denying claims:

Policy lapse due to non-payment of premiums

If life insurance premiums are not paid on time, the policy may lapse. In some cases, however, policyholders were given incorrect information about payment deadlines or were not properly notified of missed payments. A legal challenge may be appropriate in these circumstances.

Contestability period

Most life insurance policies have a two-year contestability period. If the policyholder passes away within the first two years, the insurer is entitled to investigate the application for misrepresentation or fraud. Once the contestability period expires, claims can generally only be denied for non-payment or policy lapse. If your claim was denied during the contestability period, we can help determine if the denial was justified.

Policy exclusions

Many life insurance policies exclude from coverage certain causes of death, such as suicide or death resulting from participation in a dangerous activity. However, in some cases, these exclusions are applied too broadly, or the policy terms are incorrectly interpreted. If it can be proven that the exclusion does not apply, then the claim should be honored.

Alleged misrepresentations

Insurance companies typically scrutinize the original life insurance application, searching for any omissions or discrepancies. The insurer may argue that the policyholder misrepresented key information concerning lifestyle or health, for example. Minor misunderstandings or application errors should not necessarily invalidate the claim, particularly if the cause of death is not related to the misrepresented fact.

Policy errors

Insurance company or agent errors made during the application or underwriting process can lead to wrongful claim denials. For example, if the insurer fails to communicate important policy details to the policyholder or fails to record key information, beneficiaries may have grounds to challenge a denial.

What Are the Legal Options for Challenging Life Insurance Denials?

After a claim is denied, the first step is to consult with an experienced life insurance denials attorney, who can analyze the denial letter to identify any potential grounds for dispute. Most life insurance companies have an internal appeals process, which allows beneficiaries to challenge a denial within the company. It is important to have legal representation for this process, which involves submitting additional documentation or explanations to support your claim. If the internal appeal is unsuccessful, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit against the insurance company for breach of contract, bad faith, or Texas Insurance Code violations.

Why Choose Us for a Life Insurance Denial?

At Scheuerman Law Firm, we are board-certified attorneys in San Antonio with previous experience as insurance defense lawyers who understand how the other side works. Together, we have taken more than 100 jury trials to verdict. Our firm values are trust, integrity, and dedication to client success. If you are dealing with the denial of a life insurance claim, contact us to find out how we can help.