Success Story: Bruno Da Silva
Bruno Da Silva is a Toronto-area stone mason. For 18 years, he operated as a single-person company, employing only on-call workers. Also a family man with a young grandchild, he got an important referral from a relative after his injured back led to the denial of his disability insurance claim and he needed legal help to secure benefits.
Sudden Back Injury
Over the years, Bruno had learned to deal with back strain from laying stone, operating his stone saw, and various related tasks. Yet, when lifting and rocking his infant grandchild, Bruno’s back seized. His chronic pain having suddenly become acute, he went to his family doctor.
Career Ended
In addition to sore muscles, the doctor found multiple spinal disc herniations. He recommended surgery and said that Bruno could never work as a stone mason again – disabled long-term.
Personal Difficulties Begin
This news upset Bruno greatly. In addition to the pain in his back, the sudden disruption of his career and lifestyle and the loss of his livelihood brought on depression and difficulty sleeping. With surgery pending, he took painkillers, anti-depressants, and sleeping pills. Now inactive, he also began to gain weight.
Insurance Gives Hope
Fortunately, Bruno had purchased a private “own occupation” long-term disability insurance policy years earlier. It would be good for $4,000 per month income replacement if he could not perform his own job before age 65.
Income Had Varied
Bruno had earned $4,000 gross or more per month in prior years, including when he bought the policy. In the year prior to the back seizure, though, Bruno turned down some work because of his sore back. This resulted in an average monthly income below $4,000 over several months before his back injury.
Fear Comes True
After he applied for benefi ts, the insurer refused to pay the full amount. To qualify for the monthly income replacement, Bruno had to prove that he could earn that income just prior to his disability. The insurer even suggested that Bruno had chosen to work less prior to submitting his claim because he wanted to slow down and enjoy more recreational time.
Cousin’s Referral Renews Hope
Featured in Share Perspectives issue 6, Dominica De Sousa is Bruno’s cousin. When Dominica heard of Bruno’s disability insurance benefits being denied, she referred him to Share Lawyers.
Insurer Seems To Play Dirty
Share Lawyers reviewed Bruno’s policy and medical reports. It was found that the insurer had interpreted the provisions of his policy extremely narrowly and misapplied certain sections, possibly to make his claim difficult and get him to give up.
Good Advocacy Gets Good Settlement
Share Lawyers took legal action on Bruno’s behalf. Through the legal process, a favourable settlement was achieved. Now on less medication and in good family care, Bruno again feels good about the future.
*Names have been fictionalized to protect the privacy of our clients.
Denied your long term disability claim?
Contact Share Lawyers today and put our experience to work for you. Our 35+ years of experience can help you win your case against Canada Life, Desjardins, Manulife, RBC Insurance, Sun Life, and other insurance companies. We offer free consultations and there are no fees unless you win your case. Join us on Facebook and become a Top Fan for a chance to win each month.
_________
A note from our long term disability lawyers
Taking a medical leave from work is not an easy decision to make. Concerns about providing for yourself and your family and keeping your job may cause you to want to push through your pain, but this won’t make your problems go away. Stopping work is often the smartest decision for your long term health and well-being, and your disability benefits are there to provide you with financial support until you can return to work.
If you have made the tough decision to stop working and apply for your short term disability or long term disability benefits, you may feel overwhelmed by the process and have questions that your employer and your insurance company are not able or willing to answer. Share is There to see you through and answer your questions.
Our Disability law firm knows what you have been going through
We understand that things have not been easy for you over the last little while. Your health has been suffering, you are unable to work, and now your insurance company, who was supposed to be there in your time of need, has decided they will not pay your disability benefits or respect your disability claim. These benefits exist to provide you with the financial support you need so that you can focus on your health and rebuilding your life. It is unfortunate that your insurance company has not lived up to its promise. If your disability claim has been denied, we will fight to get you the benefits you are entitled to. Our disability lawyers have helped thousands of Canadians get their long term disability benefits over the past 35 years, and we can help you too.
Our experienced disability lawyers can fight back on your behalf
Share Lawyers believes that every client who is dealing with a disability claim deserves superior personal service. To achieve that goal, we have developed our team of experienced, compassionate, and caring long term disability lawyers, law clerks, and administrative staff to meet all of your needs. Our team of experienced long term disability, life insurance, employment, and critical illness insurance lawyers have made successful claims against many insurance companies, third-party administrators and employers.
If you are unable to work, your disability benefits should be there to provide you with the financial support you need. While your insurance company may be focused on finding ways to avoid paying your claim, our focus is on what is in your best interest. When Share Lawyers gets involved, you have an entire team of lawyers that are there to support you and to fight for what is yours.
Our disability claim lawyers fight for your disability insurance claim by relying on our many years of experience to apply the best strategic planning and approach in each case, using the latest technology available. Experience matters, and with Share Lawyers, you are in the best hands with 35 years of success on your side.
In this video, we explain the role of a long term disability lawyer and how we can support you when you have been denied your long term disability benefits.
