Lyme Disease
Virtually all jobs come with some sort of risk, although some careers are more dangerous than others. Outdoor careers are no exception. Besides exposure to the elements, people in outdoor jobs are also exposed to pesky attacks from insects like deer ticks. However, deer ticks can carry Lyme disease-causing bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi.
Lyme disease can cause painful, flu-like symptoms as well as neurological problems like meningitis. If you have contracted this debilitating illness as a result of an outdoor career, you may be entitled to workers’ comp benefits. To learn more, contact an experienced New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer from Levinson Axelrod, P.A., today at 800-346-5529.
Signs of Lyme Disease
The longer a deer tick stays on your body, the more likely you are to develop Lyme disease. If the bacteria do enter your body through a tick bite, you may exhibit signs of infection after a few days or even months later. Symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- A red bull’s-eye-shaped rash where the bite occurred
- Flu symptoms like a fever and chills
- Neurological complications like Bell’s palsy or areas of numbness
- Joint pain that can move from joint to joint
You should visit a doctor as soon as you exhibit symptoms of Lyme disease; the earlier you start treatment, the less of a chance you have for complications.
Occupational Lyme Disease
There are several outdoor careers commonly associated with exposure to deer ticks, which serve as carriers for the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. These occupations include:
- Landscapers and gardeners
- Wildlife management workers
- Foresters
- Construction workers
- Oilfield workers
- Railroad workers
- Surveyors
Although Lyme disease is typically treatable with antibiotics, some patients never recover.
Contact Us
If you have contracted Lyme disease while on the job, your employer may hesitate to provide you with the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve. To learn more about your legal rights, contact a determined New Jersey workers’ comp attorney from Levinson Axelrod, P.A., at 800-346-5529 today.

