Oklahoma Life Insurance Denial Lawyer

Losing a loved one is a tragedy that leaves family members and friends brokenhearted. These profound feelings of sadness are often combined with concern and worry, especially when the deceased was a primary source of financial support.

Each year, many find themselves relieved that their loved ones had life insurance policies, that they spent time planning for the future, and that they remained current with annual premiums. They are grateful for the financial support they expect these policies to provide.  Unfortunately,  beneficiaries often find themselves frustrated and disappointed as insurance companies deny their life insurance claims.

In fact, about 20% of all life insurance claims face an initial denial.

Sadly, life insurance companies’ loyalties lie not with their policyholders, but instead with their stockholders. Beneficiaries across the state often believe these companies are all-powerful and that their initial decision is final. Thankfully, it is not; individuals whose claims were denied have options.

The life insurance lawyers at Doug Terry Law know the strategies insurance companies leverage to protect their profitability and understand how to combat them.

If your life insurance claim was denied, it makes sense to contact them for help.  If the decision was made in bad faith, you may be able to hold the insurance company liable for its actions. Reach out today at 405-463-6362 to schedule your free consultation.

Why Choose Doug Terry Law

We Are Uniquely Qualified to Make a Difference

Doug Terry Law specializes in assisting clients with denied life insurance claims. Our team, led by a seasoned life insurance lawyer, understands the tactics insurance companies employ and knows how to address them. Consider why Doug Terry Law is the first choice for many in Oklahoma facing life insurance claims denials.

• Experience: Our firm’s founder, Doug Terry, began his career representing insurance companies; he has first-hand knowledge of their strategies.
• Commitment: Doug Terry Law was founded to help bridge the power gap between insurance companies and their policyholders.
• Personalized Approach: We represent people, not cases.  Every individual receives hands-on service, ensuring appropriate strategy and resulting in clients’ questions and concerns being addressed promptly.
• Proven Results: Our firm boasts significant verdicts, including $200 million and $25 million in previous insurance denial cases.
• Accessible Fee Structure: We offer all potential clients a free consultation.  Additionally, our firm may operate on a contingency fee basis for clients with valid cases.

When it comes to appealing denied life insurance claims, experience, knowledge, and approach matter.

How Our Oklahoma Life Insurance Denial Attorney Assists You

What You Can Expect When You Engage Our Firm

Moving forward after the loss of a loved one is challenging.  You simply don’t have the knowledge or time to successfully manage a life insurance denial.

This is where we can help..  We have been supporting members of our community for years, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.  As your Oklahoma life insurance denial lawyer, we will first meet with you to gain a better understanding of your situation.

If we believe your claim is viable, we will review your life insurance policy, claim submission forms, and all communications from the insurance company to determine why the claim was denied. Some reasons this happens are age misstatement, alcohol or drug use, illegal activity, suicide, dangerous activity, material misrepresentation, and issues relating to the contestable period. While some reasons for denial may be valid, insurance companies have been known to manipulate the exclusions to deny claims that should be paid.

The financial impact of a denied insurance claim goes beyond a loss of benefits. The costs can be considerable and may be reimbursable, particularly if your insurance company acted in bad faith.  We will identify all bad faith damages incurred because of the denial, taking time to carefully calculate and substantiate them.  Finally, we will negotiate with the insurance company to reach an appropriate settlement.  If unsuccessful, we will not hesitate to take your case to court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Doug Terry Provides the Answers You Need

While a host of concerns regarding denied claims are specific to the individuals involved, many of our clients have similar questions that are more generic. Below, we have shared those we hear most often, along with our responses.

What is a contestable period?

In Oklahoma, the contestable period is typically two years from the policy’s start date. During this time, insurance companies can deny claims based on misrepresentations in the application. After this period, policies are generally incontestable except in cases of fraud.

What is an ERISA policy?

ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) policies are employer-provided life insurance plans governed by federal law. These policies have specific regulations, and our team is well-versed in handling ERISA-related claim denials.

What can I claim if the insurance company acted in bad faith?

If your claim was denied in bad faith, your settlement may include contract damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, and legal fees.  Your life insurance claim denial lawyer can help identify these costs for you.

How long do I have to file a bad faith claim for denied life insurance benefits?

In Oklahoma, the statute of limitations for filing a bad faith lawsuit related to a denied life insurance claim is generally two years. This period typically begins either from the date the insurer denied your claim or from when you discovered—or reasonably should have discovered—that the denial was made in bad faith.

The team at Doug Terry Law is happy to address all your concerns regarding your denied life insurance claim. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

Bad Faith Insurance Actions Are Unacceptable

We Hold Life Insurance Companies Accountable

As life insurance denial lawyers, we see countless claims denied each year. While some of these decisions are reasonable, it is not uncommon for Insurance companies to employ bad faith tactics to deny claims to protect their profitability. Some of their most common tactics include:

• Claiming policy lapses without proper notification
• Imposing unclear eligibility requirements
• Interpreting ambiguous terms in their favor
• Alleging application flaws to cancel policies.

Oklahoma law mandates that insurers provide a 60-day grace period before declaring a policy lapsed. Failure to do so can render the lapse invalid.

Our team is ready to review the circumstances of your denial, identify any improprieties, and fight tirelessly to appeal decisions and recover damages when appropriate.

If you are the beneficiary on a life insurance policy, and your claim has been denied, contact us today to see how we can help.

Contact Our Oklahoma Life Insurance Denial Attorney Today

We Are Ready to Go to Work for You Immediately

If you have had your life insurance claim unjustly denied, it is time to seek legal counsel. Inaction signifies your acceptance of your insurance company’s decision.

There is no risk in speaking with us.  Consultations are free, and statistics show that 40% of denied claims that are appealed are paid. Speak with a tried and trusted denied life insurance claims attorney about your case.

Struggling with the emotional loss of a loved one should never be complicated by a bad-faith life insurance denial. Our reputation for communicating compassionately while fighting tirelessly for what is right is outstanding. Negligently denying valid life insurance claims to protect profitability is unconscionable. Doug Terry Law was founded to protect individuals from the bad faith actions of their insurance companies.

Contact us today at 405-293-3984 to arrange your free, no-obligation consultation. We will answer your questions and provide you with an honest evaluation of your situation.