Insurance Denial Lawyers for Lyme Disease Related Disabilities

Lyme disease results from an infection of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, and in some rare cases Borrelia mayonii, resulting from a bite from an infected tick. 

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

The symptoms a person suffers from Lyme disease change as the infection develops.  In the early stages the symptoms from Lyme disease are similar to the symptoms one would expect from a flu or cold, namely:

  • Headaches
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Swollen Lymph Nodes
  • Joint Pains
  • Rash at Site of Tick Bite

If caught early most cases can be treated with antibiotics, however there are those that continue with symptoms for more than 6 months after receiving treatment.  Those who continue to suffer symptoms for a significant period of time after receiving the appropriate treatment suffer from Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).  There is no treatment currently for PTLDS and individuals suffering from it have to hope that the symptoms fade in time.

Severe and Chronic Lyme Disease Symptoms

Unfortunately, as the initial symptoms are so generic, many people do not realize they have contracted Lyme Disease until a significant amount of time has passed.  In these instances, the symptoms can get much more severe and chronic in nature.  These include:

  • Severe Headaches
  • Inflammation of the Brain and Spinal Cord
  • Neck Pain
  • Nerve Pain (Neurological Lyme Disease)
  • Facial Nerve Paralysis (Neurological Lyme Disease)
  • Numbness or Tingling in the Hands or Feet (Neurological Lyme Disease)
  • Severe Joint Pains and Swelling (Lyme Arthritis)
  • Irregular Heartbeat (Lyme Carditis)
  • Severe Fatigue
  • Cognitive Impairment
  • Dizziness

If you are unable to work due to your Lyme disease symptoms you should be entitled to long-term disability benefits.  Unfortunately, the symptoms of Lyme disease are so varied that it often makes a diagnosis difficult at first, or results in a misdiagnosis. Insurance companies will use this uncertainty to try to deny valid long-term disability claims.

If you have been disabled due to Lyme disease and an insurance company has denied your Lyme disease long-term disability claim, contact the lawyers at Taylor & Blair LLP today.