Tennessee Long-Term Disability Denials Lawyer
Fighting for Tennessee Residents Denied Disability Insurance Benefits
When a disability insurance company denies your claim in Tennessee, the clock starts immediately. Deadlines are real, the appeals process is unforgiving, and the insurance company already has attorneys working the file. Eric Buchanan & Associates is based in the heart of downtown Chattanooga on McCallie Avenue and has spent decades representing people with long-term disability insurance claims throughout Tennessee and across the United States. We handle ERISA claims, long-term disability, private disability insurance, life insurance, and health insurance matters. We know how these denials are built and how to challenge them effectively.
Eric Buchanan & Associates Represents People With Disability Insurance Claims Nationwide
Eric Buchanan & Associates has spent decades building a nationally recognized practice in ERISA and insurance benefit law right here in Chattanooga. Our attorneys regularly teach other lawyers at national conferences on ERISA and disability insurance law. That depth of focus and peer recognition means people in Tennessee who work with our team get attorneys who have seen nearly every denial strategy insurers use and have spent careers learning how to counter them. We serve clients throughout Tennessee and represent people in every state across the country.
We Help People in Tennessee Navigate Disability Insurance Claims
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 Tennessee, 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. Tennessee clients benefit from the firm’s robust national representation capabilities and a contingency fee structure, ensuring that individuals across the Volunteer State receive specialized, results-driven legal counsel focused on strategically developing the critical administrative record for maximum success.
Most people do not realize how much is at stake in the first few weeks after a denial. Under ERISA, which governs most employer-sponsored disability plans, the administrative appeal is your last real opportunity to build the record that goes to court. What you include, and what you leave out, can determine the outcome of your entire case. Our attorneys help people throughout Tennessee get that record right from the start, whether the claim involves a group long-term disability plan, a private individual policy, a life insurance denial, or a health insurance claim.
See Why Clients Choose Eric Buchanan & Associates
Why People in Tennessee Contact Eric Buchanan & Associates
Insurance companies that deny disability claims are not making mistakes. They are making calculated decisions backed by legal teams who know the rules. You need representation that matches that level of preparation.
Our firm handles ERISA benefit claims, long-term disability insurance, private disability insurance, life insurance denials, health insurance claims, and long-term care benefits. That focused practice means we are not learning your case type as we go. We bring real familiarity with how major insurers evaluate claims, where they cut corners, and what it takes to push back effectively.
Eric Buchanan & Associates is based in Chattanooga and all of our attorneys are licensed in Tennessee. We handle cases statewide and are admitted to practice in the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Tennessee. We also represent people nationally, and our attorneys hold admissions in multiple federal circuits across the country.
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 Tennessee claims are not small operations. Unum, Provident, Lincoln Financial, The Hartford, Cigna, Sun Life, MetLife, and Prudential all operate with experienced internal claims teams whose job is to protect the company’s bottom line. We have litigated against major carriers like these and understand how they build their files, what policy language they lean 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 Tennessee
We have successfully challenged disability and life insurance denials in Tennessee federal and state court, including these cases:
Gillespie v. Paul Revere Life Insurance Company, No. 1:20 CV 00102 DCLC CHS, 2021 WL 6333362 (E.D. Tenn. 2021). Our client, a gastroenterologist disabled by a stroke, sued Paul Revere for denying disability benefits. Paul Revere tried to keep the case in federal court under ERISA, but we showed his employer had no real involvement in the policy. The court agreed the policy fell outside ERISA and sent the case back to state court. Read the full case summary.
Goodman v. Unum Group, No. 09 2223, 2009 WL 10664240 (W.D. Tenn. 2009). After Paul Revere cut off our client’s disability benefits, we fought to keep the case, and its parent company Unum Group, in Tennessee state court rather than federal court. The court agreed that Unum controlled Paul Revere’s claims decisions closely enough that both companies belonged in the same Tennessee lawsuit. Read the full case summary.
Ober v. Berkshire Life Insurance Company, No. 1:06 CV 169, 2008 WL 11342559 (E.D. Tenn. 2008). Our client, a small business owner denied disability benefits by Berkshire, argued his policy was a personal policy, not an ERISA plan. The court agreed his firm never intended to create an employer sponsored benefit plan, allowing his state law claims to proceed. Read the full case summary. Read the full case summary.
Talk With Eric Buchanan & Associates About Your Tennessee Disability Insurance Claim
If your disability insurance claim has been denied, delayed, or terminated in Tennessee, do not wait to get answers. The deadlines are strict and the decisions you make early in this process carry real weight. Our attorneys will review your situation, explain your options, and give you an honest assessment of where things stand.
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 Tennessee
My claim was denied. What should I do first?
Contact an attorney before you file your appeal. Under ERISA, the administrative appeal is the last stage where you can add evidence to your record. Once a final denial is issued, courts reviewing your case are generally limited to the evidence already in that record. What gets built in before the deadline matters enormously to what happens later.
Does ERISA apply to my Tennessee disability claim?
If your disability coverage came through an employer-sponsored benefit plan, there is a strong chance ERISA applies. ERISA is a federal law that sets strict procedural rules and limits available remedies in ways that differ significantly from state law. An attorney can review your plan documents and tell you what framework governs your situation.
How long do I have to appeal a denial in Tennessee?
ERISA plans typically allow 180 days from a denial to file an administrative appeal, though your specific plan or your type of claim may set a shorter window. For private disability policies not governed by ERISA, your policy terms and Tennessee (or other state) contract law control the timeline. These deadlines are strictly enforced. Do not assume you have more time than you do.
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 straightforward with you about the fee structure during your consultation.
Can your firm represent me even though you are based in Chattanooga?
Yes. While we are headquartered in Chattanooga, we represent people throughout Tennessee and across the country. Our attorneys are licensed in Tennessee and admitted to practice in the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Tennessee, as well as multiple federal circuits nationwide.
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.