Reviews

I went to Mel after my LTD cut off my monthly benefits. Anyone that is currently looking for a disability attorney knows how traumatic and stressful the whole process is. Mel is an exceptionally skilled, competent, and knowledgeable attorney. Following Mel's guidance, and putting my trust in his abilities, he was successful in resolving my situation to my fullest satisfaction. Nothing happens fast in the LTD world. However, Mel's experience instilled a great confidence (knowing that I was doing the right thing, and going down the right path). While nothing is guaranteed in this world, being able to have confidence in anything dealing with LTD is a rare commodity and hard to come by. My family and I couldn't be happier with the way Mel conducted himself, communicated, and ultimately in the result he was able to secure. I only wish that I would have secured his services earlier on so that I could have either avoided the whole appeals process altogether or that I would have seen it coming a mile away so I would have been better prepared to contend with it when it happened. Regardless, I will now continue to retain Mel's services for my ongoing needs. I can't recommend Mel highly enough!!!

When I couldn't find and an attorney to take me on as a client, an angel was presented to me in the name of Mel Crawford. He is an attorney shows compassion for his clients. He takes the time to understand you as a person, and your specific health issues, in order to best represent you as his client. He is honest and up front with the realities of what you can expect from him and what he can or can't do for you. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate, hard working, and exceptional attorney in his field.

Mel was instrumental in helping us put together an appeal after being removed from long term disability insurance. He guided us through what is a very opaque and stacked process. He was also able to identify nefarious practices and places where Unum was trying to mislead us and make the appeal more difficult. Without Mel, I am not sure we would have been able to get reinstated. His ability to help, his understanding when hearing our story, and his tenacious legal ability allowed us to put together an irrefutable packet of evidence to combat Unum. He was critical to our success.

I asked for Mel to help with an important part of my private disability insurance determination. He knew all of the ins and outs and ‘whatfors’ and kindly and efficiently (and with integrity) helped me achieve a fair resolution of the issue. I would recommend him to anyone seeking assistance with private disability contracts where he practices. I can’t sing his praises more highly.

Mel was a Godsend when we needed a lawyer most. My husband worked for many years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, but eventually had to stop working last year. His company’s disability insurance company denied his short-term disability claim! That’s when Mel stepped in with a firm, well-written letter to the disability insurance company, and they immediately reversed their decision. Mel also assisted us with the long term disability application, which was readily approved. Mel was very quick to answer our calls and respond to emails and give wise counsel. His fee was surprisingly affordable. Mel helped us through a difficult and challenging time. I can’t imagine what we would have done without his help! Mel truly cares about people faced with disabilities; he cared for us. Mel has the experience and knowledge and dedication to take on disability companies, which are often dishonest and corrupt. Don’t go it alone! Mel is exceptional—a true Godsend. We can’t thank him enough.

Mel Crawford's expertise with both my disability insurer and employer as well as applicable laws resulted in the maximum payout of my benefits. He is thoughtful, extremely responsive, and efficient. I have referred colleagues in the past and will continue to do so in the future. About two years ago I faced a devastating and complex disability which required I access my long-term private disability benefits through my employer. Having faced a similar situation in the past, I was familiar with the process and tactics I was up against with the Insurance Company. Through a mutual colleague, I was referred to The Law Office of Mel Crawford. In our initial consultation Mel was empathetic, validated my fear and anxiety as justified, explained thoroughly and clearly the process, and offered fair and competitive rates. I left the meeting with renewed hope that I would have the opportunity to focus on my recovery without the fear of overwhelming, scary procedures. Those expectations were well-exceeded. Over the course of my leave, Mel vigorously and effectively protected my benefits. He was always extremely responsive in emails and phone calls. As complexities inevitably arose, he provided background and guidance with a recommended path forward. This path was the right one 100% of the time. If you are facing a similar situation, please reach out to Mel. It will make your life easier, alleviate your fear and anxiety, and help protect your income and assets - and, most importantly, allow you to focus on recovery.

I disagreed with an insurance company for months and months about their decision to terminate my benefits. I read every word of a 900+ page case file. I wrote what I thought was an incredibly strong appeal. The insurance company's tactics were transparently manipulative, stalling, and biased. Their decision forced me to do things that were not in my best interest medically. I was on the verge of giving up because it was just too much when a trusted person gave me Mel's contact information. Everything changed after that. Mel was reassuring, compassionate, and empathetic. He helped me understand that it wasn't personal. It was what insurance companies did and that this one was one of the worst of the worst. It was empowering when the insurance company asked one more blatantly stalling thing of me to be able to have Mel immediately contact them telling them that from there on out everything went through him. He wrote a second letter building on my own appeal, but based in legal precedence and without my frayed emotions. Mel is a gifted and effective writer. He had a quiet and calming demeanor with me, but his communications with the insurance company were professional but with a firm tone that left no doubt that they were no longer dealing with a person they could continue their standard practices with. Mel is clearly passionate about his work and cares very much about his clients. The insurance company seemed to double down but Mel's expertise in handling these matters allowed him to walk me through the expected reactions and possible outcomes. And we were very prepared and able to respond quickly and definitively. I was battling a huge corporation solo before hiring Mel. After hiring Mel, despite that we were a small team, Mel made us so effective against the insurance company that I feel we forced them to admit (of course, without admitting) that they had made the wrong decision initially. Ultimately, Mel brought us to a conclusion that I never could have on my own despite that I had in my original appeal accurately identified several of the shortcomings of the insurance companies decision. Despite this, their tactics had completely worn me down and without Mel I would have walked away. I absolutely felt that I was being bullied by the insurance company and felt utterly powerless to do anything about it. Mel very much helped me regain that empowerment by speaking on my behalf with his years of legal expertise behind his words. It's easy to feel like you have no options as a single person against a huge insurance company, but with Mel advocating for you, even two people can face a huge corporation that has had years to perfect their tactics of breaking people down. I believe I could have spared myself a lot of anguish if I'd hired Mel earlier.

I was referred to Mel and couldn’t have been happier with the results. He is professional, upstanding and knowledgeable. He handled my disability case with ease and knew exactly what he was doing. Mel knows exactly what to do to get you your deserved compensation. He keeps in touch regularly with updates and guides you through the process with his experience. Mel is definitely the person you want on your side. I can’t say enough about his talent dealing with the disability insurance companies. If you have been denied your claim, Mel is absolutely the lawyer you need.

Mel Crawford handled my husband's disability case professionally and successfully. He held my hand when I was overwhelmed by the paperwork, he listened when I was frustrated by the process, he was efficient with his time to minimize our costs, and he got us the benefits we deserved. I cannot recommend him more highly!

Mel Crawford is a brilliant attorney. From the first day we spoke I felt he had true empathy and understanding for my medical condition and a passion for justice and helping people. I had spoken to two other lawyers and they declined to work with me as they felt I would not win my case. Mel on the other hand could see through the Long Term Disability’s denial. His appeal was validating, accurate and thorough. Despite the challenges posed by the LTD he prevailed and won my case. I am so grateful and appreciative of Mel and highly recommend him as a disability lawyer.

Was looking for a lawyer to help with my insurance company denying my disability benefits for no apparent reason other than to hope I just go away. I found Mel and he cut through the issues with his experience and sent them all the evidence they needed. They never asked me for any of these records. With the overwhelming evidence in their possession, they had had no choice but to re-instate the benefits I paid for all those years. Great experience all around. Thanks Mel!!

Two important facts: first, Mel won our case. Second, and as important to us, Mel was compassionate. My wife and I feel incredibly fortunate to have connected with Mel during a very difficult time for us. We were faced with a difficult situation of me being diagnosed with and disabled by multiple sclerosis. This caused me to lose my job and my ability to find other work. My disability insurance company took every opportunity to deny my long-term disability claim. With kindness and compassion as well as expertise and confidence, Mel worked us through the complicated process of disputing, and overturning, the insurance company’s position to deny my claim. This included working with my health care professionals, witnesses and filing a federal court case. We doubt we would have reached this good outcome if it was not for Mel’s many years of experience and extraordinary capabilities. Throughout the process Mel showed us kindness and showed the insurance company that they were wrong. We can’t imagine what this would have been like without working with Mel. Mel allowed us to focus on my medical challenges and minimized the emotional toll on us that came with fighting a big insurance company. Without reservation, my wife and I recommend Mel for any situation that falls in his many areas of expertise. With the utmost confidence, we have recommended him to close friends. We hope you do not need his services, but if you do, please contact Mel Crawford. We believe you will experience the same level of expertise and compassion we did during a very challenging ordeal.