A Scottish man who developed Lyme disease and became seriously ill has launched a legal claim for £80,000 against his employers for failing to do enough to protect workers from the potentially life-threatening disease.
Iain MacEchern had worked for the Forestry Commission for more than 20 years around the Lorne area of Argyll and Bute, when he was taken ill and was later diagnosed in hospital as suffering from Lyme disease.
The disease is a bacterial infection spread by ticks that feed on the blood of animals and humans, and can transmit the bacteria between their hosts. Early symptoms include a rash that looks like the bullseye on a dartboard, although not all sufferers display this clear symptom. If treated early with the correct antibiotics the illness can be managed effectively and cause few long term issues, however in some cases with a severe infection, or if it goes undiagnosed, it can cause a range of debilitating symptoms and side-effects including arthritis, internal bleeding, cognitive impairment and can even contribute to death.
Mr MacEchern said that he almost died and that within a week of displaying the first symptoms, he was unable to walk and was in extreme pain. He suffered from hallucinations and had to undergo surgery to deal with internal bleeding.
He claims that he was regularly bitten by ticks during his employment, and that since 1990 the Forestry Commission was aware of steps that should have been taken to reduce the risk of employees being bitten. This included the wearing of light-coloured clothing so that ticks can more easily be seen, using close-woven fabrics that ticks cannot penetrate, and regularly applying suitable insecticide such as DEET to repel the insects.
If you or someone you care for has suffered as a result of Lyme Disease – whether it was through your employment, or if you contracted the disease elsewhere but your doctor failed to diagnose and treat it correctly, then it is likely that you could be eligible to make a claim for compensation. At Universa Law we have years of experience in handling claims of this nature and will do all in our power to ensure you and your family get the compensation pay out that you deserve.
Contact us today and talk through your situation with one of our friendly and knowledgeable solicitors – you’re under no obligation to continue with a case if you choose not to.
Call us now on 0800 999 1374 or click here to start your claim.
