When your world is turned upside down by the death of a loved one, the last thing you need is an insurance company standing in the way of the benefits that were promised. That’s why we fight for grieving families and rightful beneficiaries whose life insurance claims are denied, delayed, or flat-out ignored. Daly & Black, P.C. boasts the finest life insurance claim lawyers New Orleans has to offer—professionals who know how to hold insurers accountable and get results when it matters most.
We know what you’re up against, and we won’t let them take advantage of you and we do it on a contingency fee basis—meaning you don’t pay us a dime unless we win. Schedule a free consultation with Daly & Black, P.C. now.
Why Life Insurance Claims Get Denied in Louisiana
Insurance companies don’t make money by paying claims. They make money by delaying, denying, and disputing them—even when they’re valid. Common reasons for a denied life insurance claim include:
- Missed or late premium payments
- Misstatements or omissions on the application
- Policy exclusions (such as suicide or high-risk activities)
- Disputes over beneficiary designation
- Death during the two-year contestability period
They might sound legitimate on paper. But in practice, insurers often twist facts or cite vague clauses to justify denying you the payout.
Louisiana Life Insurance Laws You Should Know
Understanding how life insurance law works in Louisiana gives you an edge—and keeps insurers from misleading you.
Two-Year Contestability Period
Under La. Rev. Stat. § 22:931, life insurance policies are typically contestable for the first two years. If the insured dies during this time, the insurer may investigate for material misrepresentations made on the application.
One-Year Prescription Period
According to La. Civ. Code art. 3492, most insurance disputes in Louisiana must be filed within one year of the date of denial. Missing this deadline can permanently bar your claim.
Interpleader Actions
If there’s a dispute about who the rightful beneficiary is, insurers can initiate an interpleader under La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4651 et seq., essentially asking the court to decide while they hold the money.
Bad Faith Penalties
Louisiana law (La. Rev. Stat. §§ 22:1892 and 22:1973) allows beneficiaries to pursue penalties, including attorney’s fees and up to double damages, if an insurer fails to pay a valid claim in a timely manner without just cause.
Just because they quote the law doesn’t mean they’re following it. At Daly & Black, we hold them accountable.
What Happens If the Beneficiary Never Comes Forward?
In some cases, a life insurance policy goes unclaimed because the named beneficiary doesn’t step forward—or doesn’t even know they were named.
No Duty to Locate Beneficiaries
Unfortunately, there is no federal or Louisiana state law requiring insurance companies to proactively locate beneficiaries. If no one submits a claim, insurers can quietly hold onto the funds or eventually transfer them to the state as unclaimed property under Louisiana’s unclaimed property laws (La. Rev. Stat. § 9:154).
This lack of obligation leads to more unclaimed policies than most people realize. Since 2016, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has helped consumers recover over $6 billion in unclaimed life insurance benefits using its Life Insurance Policy Locator tool. That staggering figure reflects how frequently life insurance payouts go undistributed—and how little effort insurers invest in remedying that.
The Role of Interpleader Actions
When no one comes forward to claim the policy, or when there are multiple potential beneficiaries, insurers may attempt to delay or avoid payout entirely. In some instances, they initiate a legal process known as an interpleader action—filing a lawsuit under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Articles 4651–4662—to ask the court to decide who the rightful beneficiary is.
While this allows the insurer to shift liability to the court and remove themselves from the dispute, it often results in lengthy, costly, and emotionally draining litigation for the families involved.
How Daly & Black Protects Your Rights
Insurers sometimes use interpleader action, not just as a procedural tool, but as a stalling tactic to offload their responsibility and place a heavier burden on already grieving families. At Daly & Black, we understand the legal nuances of these tactics and push back aggressively.
If you believe you are a rightful beneficiary or you’ve uncovered a forgotten or hidden policy we can help you investigate, assert your rights, and ensure the insurer doesn’t use confusion or silence as an excuse to keep the money.
In other words, silence works in the insurer’s favor—and they know it. We make sure they don’t get away with it.
How Our New Orleans Life Insurance Claim Lawyers Fight Back
At Daly & Black, P.C., we’re not in the business of sending polite letters and hoping for the best. We’re in the business of fighting—and winning—when insurance companies refuse to honor their commitments.
When a life insurance claim is denied, we start by dissecting the denial itself. We review every word of the policy and every line of reasoning the insurer uses to justify withholding payment. Then, we dig deeper. Our team investigates independently, examining documentation, policy records, and any inconsistencies the insurance company may have overlooked—or intentionally ignored.
Once we’ve built the case, we strike. Sometimes that means issuing a formal demand. Other times, it means filing a lawsuit and taking the insurer to court. Whatever the route, we act decisively, with one goal in mind: forcing the insurance company to do what it should have done in the first place.
We’ve gone head-to-head with the largest insurance companies in the country. And we don’t back down.
What You Can Recover in a Life Insurance Claim
Every case is different, but if you’re a rightful beneficiary, you may be entitled to more than just the death benefit. At Daly & Black, we pursue every available form of compensation under Louisiana law to make sure you receive the full value of what’s owed.
The Full Life Insurance Claim Payout (Death Benefit)
This is the primary amount specified in the policy—the money your loved one intended to leave behind for your care and future. Insurance companies often use technicalities or delay tactics to avoid paying it. We make sure they don’t get away with it.
Interest on Delayed Payments
If the insurer drags its feet without a valid reason, Under Louisiana law, specifically La. Rev. Stat. § 22:1892(B)(1), insurers who fail to pay a claim within thirty days of receiving satisfactory proof of loss may be liable for interest on the amount due. This helps offset the financial stress caused by their delay—and holds them accountable for making you wait. This helps offset the financial stress caused by their inaction—and holds them accountable for making you wait.
Legal Fees and Damages for Bad Faith
When an insurer denies a claim without just cause or acts in bad faith, you may be eligible for more than just the benefit. Under La. Rev. Stat. §§ 22:1892 and 22:1973, you could recover attorney’s fees, penalties, and even additional damages for emotional or financial harm.
Our goal is to secure everything your loved one intended to provide—and make the insurer answer for every delay, excuse, or denial they used to try to avoid paying you.
Why Families in New Orleans Trust Daly & Black, P.C.
Insurance companies hope you’ll be too overwhelmed to fight back. We make sure they regret that gamble.
- Relentless Litigation Power: We’ve taken on—and beaten—some of the biggest insurers in the country.
- Deep Knowledge of Louisiana Law: Our attorneys know how local statutes, deadlines, and court procedures shape your claim.
- Client-Centered Approach: You’re never just a case file. We treat your fight like it’s personal—because to you, it is.
- Proven Results: We’ve recovered millions for policyholders and beneficiaries across the country.
If your life insurance claim has been delayed, denied, or buried in excuses, it’s time to push back. Don’t let the insurance company control the narrative or take what’s rightfully yours. Daly & Black, P.C. will stand up for what your loved one intended to leave you. Call us and Schedule your free consultation now—and let the finest life insurance claim lawyers New Orleans has to offer go ALL IN for you..
FAQs
Why would a life insurance company deny a claim in New Orleans?
Common reasons include alleged misrepresentations, missed premiums, policy exclusions, and disputes over beneficiaries. Sometimes, denials are based on bad faith tactics.
What should I do if my life insurance claim is delayed or denied?
Request a written explanation, preserve all documents, and contact a denied life insurance claim lawyer as soon as possible. Insurers count on you being overwhelmed.
How can a New Orleans life insurance claim lawyer help me?
We review the policy and denial, challenge bad faith, and take aggressive legal action to secure your payout. Our attorneys know Louisiana insurance law and aren’t afraid to go to trial.
Call Us. We’ll Handle the Rest.
Don’t let insurance companies twist the rules or drag out your claim. Let a seasoned life insurance claim lawyer in New Orleans pursue justice in your stead.Schedule your free consultation now. Daly & Black is ALL IN. ALL THE TIME.