New York Long-Term Disability Denials Lawyer
New York Disability Insurance Claim Denied? Do Not Let the Appeal Deadline Slip Away.
A disability insurance denial in New York sets a process in motion that will not wait for you. Deadlines are strict, the insurer already has people assigned to your file, and the decisions made in those first few weeks carry real weight. Eric Buchanan & Associates represents people with disability insurance claims throughout the United States, and that includes people in New York. We handle ERISA claims, long-term disability, private disability insurance, life insurance, and health insurance disputes across the country. We know how these denials are built and what an effective challenge requires.
Eric Buchanan & Associates Represents People With Disability Insurance Claims Nationwide
Meet Attorney Eric L. Buchanan
Eric L. Buchanan is the President and Partner of Eric Buchanan & Associates, a recognized national authority specializing exclusively in complex ERISA and disability insurance law. Serving disabled individuals throughout New York, Eric leverages a unique background as a decorated U.S. Navy officer and naval aviator, alongside his academic success as a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law. Demonstrating his exceptional authoritativeness, he holds the highest peer ratings, teaches other attorneys nationwide, and has achieved landmark legal decisions that improve disability protections. New York clients benefit from the firm’s robust national representation capabilities and a contingency fee structure, ensuring that individuals across the Empire State receive specialized, results-driven legal counsel focused on strategically developing the critical administrative record for maximum success.
Eric Buchanan & Associates has built a national practice over decades of focused work in ERISA and insurance benefit law. Our attorneys are recognized leaders in this field who regularly present at national conferences and teach other lawyers about disability insurance and ERISA. People in New York who work with our firm get attorneys who have spent their careers on exactly these kinds of cases and who have encountered virtually every approach insurers use to deny or terminate benefits.
See Why Clients Choose Eric Buchanan & Associates
We Help People in New York Navigate Disability Insurance Claims
The period immediately following a denial is more important than most people realize. Under ERISA, which applies to most employer-sponsored disability plans, the administrative appeal is your final opportunity to get evidence into the record before a court reviews your case. Once that final denial is issued, the record is closed. Judges are generally limited to what is already there. Our attorneys help people throughout the country, including in New York, build that record the right way from the beginning, whether the claim involves a group long-term disability insurance plan, a private individual policy, a life insurance denial, or a health insurance dispute.
Why People in New York Contact Eric Buchanan & Associates
When an insurance company denies a disability claim, it is rarely an oversight. These are calculated decisions backed by experienced internal claims teams and legal support focused on the company’s bottom line. You need representation that understands how that system operates and knows how to push back against it.
Our firm concentrates on ERISA benefit claims, long-term disability insurance, private disability insurance, life insurance denials, health insurance claims, and long-term care benefits. We are not a general practice firm that occasionally handles insurance disputes. That singular focus means we understand how major carriers evaluate and deny claims, where the weak points in their decisions tend to be, and what it takes to build a case that gets results.
Eric Buchanan & Associates is based in Tennessee and represents people throughout the United States. Attorney Noah Breazeale is admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which hears appeals from federal district courts in New York. While Noah Breazeale is not admitted to the New York bar, he and our team are available to help people in New York with their disability insurance claims. Where needed, the firm works alongside local counsel or follows applicable local rules to ensure our representation follows applicable professional rules. Most ERISA cases are litigated in federal court, so our Tennessee location rarely creates any barrier to effective representation.
In most cases we accept, there is no fee unless we win. If we do not recover benefits for you, you typically owe us nothing in attorney fees.
Experience Handling Disability Insurance Appeals Against Major Carriers
The insurers denying claims in New York are large, well-resourced national operations. Unum, Lincoln Financial, New York Life, The Hartford, Cigna, Sun Life, MetLife, Prudential, and others all maintain seasoned internal claims teams whose focus is on protecting the company’s financial interests. We have litigated against these carriers for years and understand how they structure denials, what policy provisions they rely on, and what a strong appeal or federal court case actually requires.
If your insurer is not on that list, that does not change anything. We handle disability and insurance benefit claims against any carrier.
Case Results in New York
We have successfully challenged disability insurance disputes in New York, including this case:
Landry v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Our client, an oil field equipment mechanic, discovered MetLife had been underpaying his disability benefits for years. When MetLife argued he waited too long to sue, we successfully argued New Y/successful-cases-citations/landry-v-metropolitan-life-insurance-company//successful-cases-citations/legal-summary-satter-v-aetna-life-insurance-company/”>Read the full case summary.
Talk With Eric Buchanan & Associates About Your New York Disability Insurance Claim
If your disability insurance claim has been denied, delayed, or terminated in New York, do not put off getting answers. The deadlines are strict and the early decisions carry real consequences. Our attorneys will review your situation, explain your options, and give you an honest picture of where things stand.
If an insurance company, your plan, or someone else has denied your claim, contact our disability attorneys today to see if you qualify for a free consultation.
Call (877) 634-2506.
Frequently Asked Questions About Disability Insurance Claims in New York
My claim was denied. What should I do first?
We recommend you reach out to an attorney before you file your appeal. Under ERISA, the administrative appeal is the last point at which new evidence can be added to your record. After a final denial, courts are generally limited to what is already in that record. The evidence that goes in before the deadline determines what a judge can consider later.
Does ERISA apply to my New York disability claim?
If your disability coverage came through an employer-sponsored benefit plan, ERISA most likely applies. ERISA is a federal law that imposes strict procedural rules and limits available remedies in ways that differ substantially from New York state law. An attorney can review your plan documents and explain exactly which framework applies to your situation.
How long do I have to appeal a denial in New York?
ERISA plans typically allow 180 days from a denial to file an administrative appeal, though your specific plan or the type of ERISA claim you have may provide a shorter window. For private disability policies not subject to ERISA, your policy language and New York contract law, or other applicable state law, govern the timeline. These deadlines are firm. Do not wait to find out how much time you have.
What does it cost to hire your firm?
In most cases we accept, we work on a contingency fee basis. You typically owe no attorney fees unless we recover benefits on your behalf. We will be upfront about the fee arrangement during your consultation.
Can your firm represent me even though you are based in Tennessee?
Yes. Attorney Noah Breazeale is admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which hears appeals from federal district courts in New York. While Noah Breazeale is not admitted to New York state courts, he and our team are available to help people in New York with their disability insurance claims. Where needed, the firm works with local counsel or follows applicable local rules to ensure our representation follows applicable professional rules.
This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Outcomes in disability insurance matters depend on the specific facts, policy documents, and applicable law.