February 12, 2025
Life Claim represented the family of 64-year-old man who entered a car that did not have working interior door handles. Without the keys, he could not start the car to roll the windows down. After becoming trapped for hours on a hot day, he died from environmental heat exposure. However, the autopsy report concluded that the death is contributed to by “dementia, seizure disorder and hypertension.” Due to the autopsy report, MetLife denied the family’s claim, arguing that it does not have to pay accidental death benefits for any loss caused or contributed to by physical or mental illness or infirmity.
After thorough examination by our own board certified forensic pathologist, we were able to show that the original autopsy report was based on speculative conclusions unsupported by any forensic evidence that dementia, seizure order or hypertension played any role in the accidental death. MetLife agreed and reversed its denial decision, paying the claim in full with interest.