When you have a life-altering injury or illness, it can feel overwhelming when considering the challenge of making a successful Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance claim. Choosing your best TPD lawyer to guide you through the process is crucial, but how do you know what to expect regarding legal fees? After all, a specialist TPD lawyer is expensive, right?
This ultimate guide will cover the advantages of no-win, no-fee agreements, factors influencing TPD lawyer fees, and answer the question: how much do lawyers charge for TPD claims?
What is my TPD claim worth?
About TPD Claims and Legal Fees
Australians who cannot work due to a permanent disability like a mental illness or other chronic illness or injury can file a TPD claim for financial support through an insurance payout.
Experienced TPD lawyers offer knowledge and direction during the claim process to ensure your case is properly prepared and submitted, increasing your chance of a successful TPD claim. However, their fees can vary considerably based on factors like experience, success rate, the need for medical assessment and other supporting evidence, and the potential lump sum payment amount.
What are TPD Claims?
TPD claims provide financial security when you cannot earn an income because of a permanent medical condition like a mental illness or other injury or illness. When successful, you get a lump sum TPD insurance payout, which helps cover your living costs.
Eligibility to claim a TPD payout relies on your insurance policy terms, particularly your definition of total and permanent disability. This criterion can vary considerably between TPD policies.
The process of lodging a permanent disability claim, often called a TPD claim, requires compelling evidence to prove you are incapable of doing your job anymore or one for which you have training and experience.
Most Australians are eligible for a TPD lump sum benefit through their superannuation fund. Moreover, you could have other claimable insurance benefits for temporary disabilities, like income protection.
What is the TPD Insurance Claim Process?
The procedure for making a TPD insurance claim involves:
- Contacting the relevant superannuation funds
- Asking for the superannuation insurance policy, terms and conditions
- Investigate if you can make a TPD claim based on the cover, circumstances, policy definitions, and other eligibility criteria.
The Elements Impacting What TPD Lawyers Charge
Knowing the elements that impact the cost of a TPD lawyer in Australia can help you choose a great law firm when you want to make a TPD claim.
Solicitor Experience
Typically, a TPD lawyer with substantial litigation experience will charge higher fees. On the other hand, they often have more successful claims due to their expertise. Thankfully, you generally only require the services of a senior lawyer when an insurance company denies or rejects a claim.
Splatt Lawyers carefully chooses your legal representative based on the particulars of your case, and only retains a senior lawyer when necessary. Our goal is to ensure you get the most for your money. Additionally, we give you a fixed or capped price before we start work on your insurance claim.
Medical Reports and Other Evidence
Winning a TPD claim depends on convincing your insurance company that you meet the TPD definition in your terms and conditions. This requires compelling medical assessments. Sometimes, you may need to see multiple doctors, specialists, or medical clinics to prove you have a total and permanent disability. The reports are then submitted to the super fund trustee and insurer as part of the claim procedure. Following this process will help you have a successful TPD claim.
However, the requirement for comprehensive medical evidence to support a TPD claim will impact a lawyer’s legal fees. More complex cases need more documentation, which increases the hours of chargeable work on your case.
Payout Value
Many Australian TPD lawyers charge based on your potential payout value. Splatt Lawyers does not. Instead, we bill you only for the work hours necessary to win your TPD insurance payout. And all our legal services are funded on a 100% no win, no fee basis, which means you pay when you win and zero if you lose. It’s our no-financial-risk guarantee. Call Now for your free claim investigation: 1800 700 125
TPD Claim – 100% No Win, No Fee Arrangement
Unlike some other insurance claim law firms, Splatt Lawyers has a 100% no win no fee policy. Our legal funding arrangement gives our clients peace of mind because they are not responsible for any legal fees if they lose their case.
Furthermore, choosing our TPD claims lawyers for your case also gives you access to our 99% success rate, giving you a strong chance of a favourable outcome.
How 100% No Win, No Fee Works
Although it is easy to assume that all no-win, no-fee lawyers are the same, this is untrue. Many legal practices will waive your legal fees if you lose but still charge for disbursements (the cost of medical reports and investigations, which can be considerable). Some lawyers also bill fees based on a percentage of your settlement figure, which can be substantial, particularly if you have multiple superannuation funds.
The good news is that our solicitors work on a 100% no win, no fee basis. Hence, if you lose, you walk away owing nothing, which means you have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Plus, you will know what we will charge for our work before we get started.
What is No Win No Fee ?
We Don’t Take a Percentage of Your Lump Sum Payout
It’s common for people to believe that lawyers charge a percentage of a TPD lump sum payment as their fee. So, please understand that Splatt Lawyers:
- Charges a fixed or capped amount for insurance claims (not a percentage)
- Bills according to the number of hours needed to secure your benefits.
- Provides complete cost transparency as outlined in our legal cost agreement
- Pays for an independent assessor to keep an eye on billing expenses
- Provides an upfront fixed or capped price before we start winning your case
When to Hire a TPD Lawyer
Hiring a TPD lawyer at the start of the TPD claims process will provide your best opportunity for successfully claiming insurance benefits. When you are permanently unable to work because of an illness, injury, or mental health disorder, they investigate your TPD policy terms, explain your legal rights, and provide expert guidance on your next steps to receiving a fair settlement.
Pre-Submission Advice
Seeking advice from a TPD lawyer before lodging a claim helps ensure a strong application that accurately addresses your policy’s TPD definition, increasing the chance of winning. They ensure you have compelling medical proof and avoid common mistakes in the claims process.
Getting pre-submission legal advice can be particularly beneficial for clients who are unsure about the eligibility criteria for a TPD payout or who may have complex medical histories. Maximise the benefits of your TPD insurance cover by contacting our insurance claims legal team now.
Challenging Refused Claims
When a TPD claim is refused, get legal insights to reverse their decision and expert guidance on the next steps. TPD lawyers can assist in contesting claim rejections by:
- Obtaining a copy of the rejection letter
- Evaluating relevant documents
- Assembling evidence
- Constructing a compelling case
- Offering legal counsel
- Representing the claimant in negotiations or court proceedings.
The potential outcomes of contesting a TPD claim refusal can include:
- Resolving disagreements and overturning denied claims with the assistance of legal counsel
- Appealing the decision through the insurer’s appeals process
- Submitting additional materials to support the claim
- Lodging a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA)
Multiple TPD Claims and Legal Fees
Some Australians have more than one superannuation policy and are unaware they have TPD cover with multiple super funds. These fortunate people can be eligible to make multiple TPD claims for the same total and permanent disability. In this situation, you will have higher legal fees because you must address the definition of TPD in each policy. However, your overall payout amount will be significantly higher in most cases.
Making Multiple Claims
Clients with multiple TPD insurance policies can make separate tpd insurance claims for each policy, potentially increasing their overall payout. The procedure for submitting multiple TPD claims typically involves:
- Identifying the relevant policies
- Contacting the insurer or super fund
- Completing the required paperwork
- Collecting medical evidence
- Submitting the claim.
While making multiple TPD claims can result in an increased total payout, known as ‘double dipping,’ it is important to be aware of the potential drawbacks, particularly the complexity of managing several claims with multiple superannuation funds and insurance companies.
Impact on Fees
The number of claims and the complexity of each case will impact legal costs, as there are more billable hours when handling multiple claims. For example, the following tasks can contribute to higher costs for law firms:
- Locating the relevant super funds
- Investigating TPD insurance cover
- Communicating with clients and insurers
- Arranging medical assessments
- Preparing legal documents
At Splatt Lawyers, knowing if you can have several TPD insurance claims is free. Contact us now to be certain of your legal rights. Call 1800 700 125
How Lawyers Help With TPD Claims
TPD claims lawyers are a valuable resource when making a TPD claim. They provide effective legal representation when dealing with large insurance companies, ensuring you receive all your TPD insurance entitlements. Furthermore, they offer specialist support with the following:
- Helping you meet your TPD definition
- Compiling and submitting compelling evidence for a successful claim
- Developing a sound legal strategy based on your circumstance
- Negotiating the best outcome
- Increasing your chance of having an approved TPD claim
- Challenging denied and rejected claims
Most people only get one opportunity to make a winning TPD insurance claim, so it’s vital that you give it your best shot. Highly experienced TPD lawyers know how to access your TPD benefit and hence deliver your desired lump sum payout. Rely on their substantial expertise and ask them to justify what lawyers charge for TPD claims.
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How Much Will Splatt Lawyers Charge for My TPD Claim?
We understand that cost is a major consideration when hiring a lawyer for your disability insurance claim. But you also want to balance a great price with the chance of a successful outcome. Thankfully, Splatt Lawyers makes it easy.
- First, you get effective legal representation from our highly experienced TPD lawyers, who consistently achieve a 99% win rate.
- Second, we can offer you competitive pricing thanks to our low overhead.
- Third, we fully disclose our legal costs so there are no nasty surprises. This means you get an upfront, capped, or fixed price before we begin work.
When you want your TPD claim approved, contact Splatt Lawyers for free advice. Our team loves to help, and all our legal services are on a 100% no win no fee basis. Call Now – 1800 700 125
TPD Claim Lawyers Queensland Wide
Disability Insurance Claim FAQs
Should I get a lawyer for a TPD claim?
Australian insurance companies seek to minimise their expenditure, so they will look for any reason to reject your case and deny your insurance benefits. Hence, it is advisable to hire an experienced TPD lawyer to help you satisfy your policy terms, giving you the best chance of a successful claim.
How much is the average TPD Payout in Australia?
The average TPD claim in Australia is typically valued from $30,000 to over $500,000, with an average lump sum payout of $200,000 or higher. Some fortunate people can make multiple claims for the same medical condition, giving them a potential payout value of millions.
How long does it take to settle a TPD claim?
Depending on the case’s complexity, settling a TPD claim typically takes 6 to 12 months. After the insurer has received your case, it can take up to six months for them to assess your claim and decide if you are eligible for coverage. Following approval, the superannuation provider will review the coverage recommendation before making their determination. You can escalate the process by submitting an accurate and complete submission in the first instance.
What percentage of TPD claims are successful?
Approximately 82% of TPD claims are approved in Australia, making them an important source of financial support for many Australians living with a total permanent disability.