The Legal Process

At Aaron Waxman & Associates, we only get paid when your case settles. Our retainer agreement is a contingency fee retainer, which means our payment is contingent upon your case settling. There are no upfront legal fees or ongoing monthly fees.

There is a stage of the legal process where we exchange documents with the insurance company or their defence counsel. We will send them copies of the documents that we have, and they will send us a copy of their claims file.

As part of the legal process, we need to request various documents. These include family doctor’s records, hospital records, specialist records, employment files, tax returns, and if applicable, WSIB, CPP Disability File, and ODSP or Ontario Works files. Medical documents are required to gain an understanding of any injuries or illnesses, and how long they have affected you. In a long-term disability matter, we request income tax returns, as the insurer wants to verify that you are not currently working or that you are not in receipt of payments that could be used against payments owed. We will fund the cost of requesting the documents. You do not have to pay for the documents. No up front fees are required from our clients.

You should come to the first meeting with any denial letters you have received from your insurance company. You should bring some sort of form of picture ID, your health card and social insurance card, as well as your insurance information (policy number and claim number). If you are on any medications, bring a list of them. You should also provide your lawyer with a list of any doctors and/or specialists you have seen, and hospitals you have been to, along with their contact information. The more information you can provide your lawyer, the better.

Yes. At Aaron Waxman & Associates, we offer you a free, no obligation initial consultation where you can ask us about your disability claim, insurance denial, employment matters, or tell us about a personal injury that has happened to you. We will meet with you at a date and time that is convenient for you; in person, by phone or via Zoom/Skype, depending on your location.

You want a lawyer that treats you with respect, and that listens to you and answers all of your questions. The right lawyer will speak to you and explain things to you so that you understand legal terminology and your legal rights. You should feel comfortable calling your lawyer when you have questions.

We will help you understand your insurance policy. A lawyer can explain to you why your claim was denied and interpret the denial letter, and determine the best course of action after your claim has been denied. By hiring a lawyer, you will be provided with information as to what type of medical evidence insurance companies are looking for, and what your rights and obligations are as an insured person. If you have commenced a lawsuit against your insurance company, you will want to know what to expect during the course of legal proceedings. Your lawyer will guide you through the process and make sure you are kept up to date on all developments during your case.

You should be aware that your insurance company has the right to hire a private investigator to conduct surveillance at any time, without your knowledge. It is recommended that you continue on with your activities that you are able to engage in and avoid the activities that you have been advised that you are medically unable to do. It is very important to be consistent and honest with your limitations.

The insurance company requests surveillance in order to verify if the level of activity being reported by you is true and to make sure that your claim is valid, and not fraudulent. If you are honest and open about your activity level, limitations and restrictions, you should not worry about surveillance.

You should also keep in mind that social media can be used as a type of surveillance. Insurance companies may use your social media accounts as another measure of surveillance to determine the level of activity you are able to do.