3 Reasons You Should Hire A Disability Insurance Lawyer To Handle Your Appeal
Did you apply for disability benefits and were denied? If so, you should know that you have a right to appeal this decision. Perhaps more importantly, you should know that you have the right to hire a disability insurance lawyer to represent you in this appeal. Choosing to exercise this right to legal counsel can have a huge impact on the outcome of your case. Continue reading to learn more about three of the many reasons why you should always hire a disability lawyer to handle your appeal.
#1: Appeals Hearings Use May Of The Same Rules Of Evidence As A Court Proceeding
While an appeals hearing is technically an administrative hearing and not a court case, these hearings will use many of the same rules of evidence that are used in a standard court case. Since your ability to effectively win your case will depend greatly upon your ability to present compelling evidence, it is essential that you are familiar with all the rules regarding evidence and witness testimony. Unfortunately, unless you have received legal training, there is a good chance that you will not be familiar with these rules of law. Thankfully, you can easily avoid any mistakes which could damage your case by simply choosing to hire a disability lawyer who is already familiar with these proceedings.
#2: You May Only Get Once Chance To Avoid Losing Any Back Pay You Are Owed
When you apply for disability benefits, these benefits are dated back to the day you applied. If your application is initially denied, you can still preserve your right to collect this back pay if you are successful in your appeal. If you fail to win your appeal, you will need to submit a new application and will therefore lose any back pay that you were entitled to. Hiring a disability lawyer to represent you will help to improve your chances of being successful at your appeal and therefore allow you to avoid losing any back pay that you are owed.
#3: You Do Not Need To Pay Anything Upfront When Hiring A Disability Lawyer
Many people choose to try and take on the appeals process on their own because they are worried about their ability to pay legal fees. If you share this concern, you should know that there is typically no upfront cost associated with hiring a disability insurance lawyer. Instead, if your lawyer is able to win your case, a portion of any money recovered on your behalf will be used in order to cover your legal fees. This is a fee structure known as a contingency fee since your responsibility for paying legal fees is contingent upon the lawyer winning your case.
For more information, contact a local disability insurance lawyer.