Mistake 14 – Restrictions and Limitations – Driving | Lakeland Long Term Disability Lawyer

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The Long Term Disability insurance company will, undoubtedly, asking lots of questions about your ability to drive in the Activities of Daily Living Form you are asked to complete as part of your long-term disability claim.

At Cavey and Barrett, a St. Petersburg-based long-term disability firm, we often get questions about how to fill out the Activities of Daily Living forms. You’ll be asked the following questions by your long-term disability carrier in regard to your driving:

* How long can you drive?

* Why do you have to stop? Is it because of fatigue? Medication? Concentration?

* How long can you ride in a car as a passenger?

* Short distances? Run errands? Doctors appointments?

* Rely on others to drive?

* Do you pump gas?

You will also be asked questions about whether you own a vehicle. These questions will include:

* Do you own a car?

* How often do you drive it?

* Do you have difficulty getting in and out of the vehicle?

* Do you experience pain getting in and out of your vehicle?

Be careful how you answer these questions. Of course, you must be truthful and not exaggerate your difficulties. I suggest that you explain that you have good days and bad days, and that your ability to drive this impacted by your pain, fatigue, and medications.

Explain that you pace yourself and, perhaps, even break up your errands over several days. Perhaps you don’t take your medication as schedule to allow you to run errands. Answer these kinds of questions using ranges and not absolutes.

It isn’t uncommon for the long-term disability carrier to place surveillance on you to determine whether your reported activity is inconsistent with what you reported on your Activities of Daily Living forms. You might even want to keep a diary of what you do during the course of the day, what medications you take and any side effects you have. etc. I would not necessarily let the long-term disability carrier know you’ve kept a diary of your activities. You can use it as a reference when you fill out the long term disability activities of daily living forms.

If you have any questions about how to fill out these long-term disability claims forms, please feel free to contact Nancy Cavey @ Caveylaw.com