Kansas City Business Litigation Lawyer

Life Insurance Claims

A life insurance policy is a contract between the policyholder and an insurance company to pay a death benefit when the policyholder dies. To begin the life insurance payout process, the insurance company must be notified immediately of the policyholder’s death. The beneficiary of the policy must provide the required documents and paperwork to initiate the claim and the insurance company will typically accept or deny the claim within 30 – 40 days and will issue payment within 30 – 60 days.

There are four primary reasons why your life insurance claim may be denied – policy delinquency, material misrepresentation, contestable circumstances and a documentation failure. Here is a quick overview of each reason that a life insurance claim may be denied.

• Policy Delinquency –Maybe the most common reason for a life insurance claim denial is policy delinquency, which occurs when the policyholder fails to make payments on time and allows the policy to lapse.
• Material Misrepresentation –Misrepresentations are a common reason for life insurance claim denials and occur when there are errors on the initial life insurance application that leave out important personal, medical and health information like – income, medical treatments, ailments and immigration status. HOWEVER, the misrepresentation usually must be “material” and contribute to the death. If not, then usually the claim should be paid.
• Contestable Circumstances –A life insurance claim can be denied when the death occurs outside the scope of coverage or within a contestable time period. Most life insurance policies possess a contestable time period an initial time from the beginning of coverage. Additional circumstances that may be contested include suicide, dying when performing a crime, dying during military service and more.
• Documentation Failure –A common reason that a claim is denied is documentation failure on the part of the family or beneficiaries of the policy. This occurs when those family members do not provide the correct paperwork and documentation to receive the payout.

Legal Advice For Small Businesses & Insurance Problems

Running a small business comes with a host of challenges related to paperwork, finances, and the law. While you may likely be able to handle the smaller, day-to-day legal aspects of the business on your own, there are times when turning to a small business attorney can make the difference between preserving your business and going under. Some of the larger legal issues that may require small business legal advice include:

• Legal Disputes with a Larger Company: Any small business will eventually find itself in a spot where it will need to pursue a case against a larger, well-funded company or competitor. Our firm understands how vulnerable this can make a small business feel and we can help.
• Insurance Disputes: If your business has an insurance claim that is being denied or underpaid, you need experienced insurance counsel to make your case and get the benefit of the premiums that you paid.
• Company Sales or Acquisitions: If you’re interested in selling your company or acquiring another business, you’ll likely want to bring on legal counsel to assist in the process. Negotiating company sales and acquisitions is a difficult process that requires experienced negotiation skills. Our team will work to understand your priorities before entering the negotiation, striving to get you the best deal that adheres to your values.
• Government Investigations into Legal Compliance: If local, state, or the federal government is investigating your business for violation of laws, you should get an attorney as soon as possible to assist in the process and protect your company from any unnecessary fines or penalties.

Business Insurance Claims

As a small business, the reason you buy insurance is to protect your business in the event of a financial disaster that can ruin your life’s work. When disaster strikes, you rely upon the insurance that you purchased to protect your investment. If your insurance claim is denied, the insurance company is required to provide an explanation. But, often the reason provided for the claim denial is inaccurate or illegal. When that happens, you need to seek counsel to protect yourself. Call Saxton Law Firm.

Here is a look at the five primary reasons why your business loss insurance claim may be denied:

• Underinsured –When you purchase an insurance policy for your business, it is important to have a policy that will cover everything your business entails. When your policy does not cover specific elements of the business, it may be grounds for a denied claim.
• Delayed Claim –When your business faces a serious loss, your insurance policy may impose certain timelines. It’s important to file a business loss claim in as soon as possible. However, if your claim is being denied based on a delay in reporting the claim, call Saxton Law Firm, we can help.
• Out-of-Date Information –All businesses grow and so has yours. It’s important to keep your insurance policy updated with new information.
• Insufficient Documentation of Damage –In the event that your business suffers a loss, it is important to photograph, record, and document any and all damages to your business property, equipment, or inventory. Sub-standard documentation may result in a denied claim.
• Non-Compliance with Insurance Conditions –Every insurance policy has conditions and requirements about how to report a loss, how long you have to report a loss, how you value the loss, and more. If you are found non-compliant with these conditions, your claim may be denied by your insurance carrier.

Homeowners Insurance

When you suffer a loss, whether it’s damage to your vehicle, damage to your property, injury to yourself, or something else, you expect your insurance company to have your back. After all, that’s why you have an insurance policy. That’s why if your claim is denied, you might feel lost. Why were you paying for insurance if your insurance provider won’t support your claim?

Having a legitimate insurance claim denied is unfair, but unfortunately, not uncommon. That’s why the Saxton Law Firm in Kansas City, MO, is committed to helping customers like you receive compensation when your insurer isn’t playing fair. We’ll help see you through the appeals process and get you the compensation you deserve.

Claims are most often denied by insurance companies because they want to save money at your expense. Insurers frequently avoid paying claims or make it very difficult for you to get the benefits to which you are entitled.

Here are some other things that your insurance company may do when they deny or avoid your claim:

• An insurer’s failure to promptly respond to questions or concerns of the claimant.
• An attempt by the insurer to settle a claim for less than a reasonable amount.
• The insurance company requests an unreasonable amount of paperwork or documents.
• The insurance company claims to not have enough information.
• The insurance company fails to explain why they are avoiding or denying your claim.

The same goes for other types of insurance. If your home is damaged in some way that’s not listed in your homeowner’s insurance, your claim may be denied. If your car is totaled, your insurer may try to say that you’re at fault for the damage. Insurance companies have to deny a certain number of claims to stay profitable, and if yours is part of this number, you need an experienced Kansas City attorney to help you.

When you have an insurance claim denied, your reflex will most likely be to panic. After all, you expected money to pay for the peril at hand; now, you’re being told that you’ll have to find another way to pay. Most people can’t pay their medical bills out of pocket and can’t simply purchase a new car at the drop of a hat. This is why when insurance companies deny your claim, you need to have an avenue to fight for the justice you deserve.

Liquor Licensing for Bars and Restaurants

Kansas City small business owners are no strangers to licenses, permits, laws and regulations – but it can be complicated. When you choose to open a business that serves alcohol, you will need to apply for a liquor license – and there are significant penalties to you and your business if your licensing is not correct. Saxton Law Firm and our experience as small business attorneys can help.

We can help make the process less stressful and ensure that all licensing and documentation at state and federal levels is compliant. Here is a quick look at how we can help you and your business obtain a liquor license in Kansas City.

• Help Determine the Type of Liquor License You Need
• Help Complete the Liquor License Application Process
• Help Obtain Sales Tax, Health, Building and Zoning Permits
• Help You and Your Business Remain Compliant
• Help You with Potential Alcohol-Related Lawsuits

Contact Us

If you have an insurance claim that has been denied, or a business problem that needs legal assistance, please contact Saxton Law Firm for a free consultation. Our team is ready to help.