Our Pennsylvania Epilepsy Lawyer Understands Your Disability Claim
Epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder that causes seizures. It is estimated that 3.4 million people in the United States suffer from epilepsy and that one-third of epilepsy sufferers have uncontrolled seizures due to medications not being effective in their case.
With the unpredictability of seizures due to epilepsy, a career and daily activities are difficult to maintain. This is especially true for doctors and medical professionals, who are unable to care for their patients if they are experiencing unexpected seizures and other epileptic complications. If you are unable to work due to epilepsy, you need to consult with a Pennsylvania epilepsy attorney about obtaining your disability insurance benefits. Do not hesitate in contacting Seltzer & Associates to discuss your claim.
Our Pennsylvania Epilepsy Attorney Team Secures Disability Benefits for Doctors and Other Professionals
You do not need to fight the insurance company alone for your benefits. Working with a Pennsylvania epilepsy attorney will help you during the pursuit of your disability insurance benefits. Not only do the attorneys at Seltzer & Associates know the challenges physicians face every day in their practice, but we understand the limitations caused by epilepsy that prevent doctors from working. Seltzer & Associates has ample experience working with insurance companies nationwide and our experienced team is ready to secure your disability insurance benefits for you.
Symptoms and Treatment of Epilepsy
The abnormal electrical activity in the brain that triggers epileptic seizures often seems to arise without warning and without an inciting accident or injury. An individual may be suffering the effects of epilepsy for a considerable period of time before the symptoms are properly diagnosed because the symptoms may be attributed to other causes.
Some of the most common symptoms of epilepsy include:
- Loss of awareness, including periods of staring into space, not responding to surroundings, and temporary confusion
- Experiencing changes in sensual perception, such as strange tastes or smells, or a tingling sensation
- Convulsions where the body stiffens or limbs start jerking or twitching
- Physical actions such as irregular eye movements or rapid breathing
Some individuals suffering from epilepsy experience early symptoms that lead to more serious symptoms. For instance, some people feel an impending sense of fear or déjà vu, see auras, or are struck by dizziness.
Once epilepsy is properly diagnosed, the symptoms can often be controlled to a certain degree with medication or nerve stimulation therapy. In certain cases, surgery can be performed to remove the portions of the brain that are triggering seizures, but this is an extreme measure only appropriate in specific situations. For most individuals, epilepsy is a condition that may be managed but never cured.
Epilepsy Complications Prevent Medical Professionals from Working
Epilepsy causes many neurological effects that prevent doctors and other medical professionals from maintaining their careers. The repeated and unexpected nature of seizures due to epilepsy certainly disrupts the ability to maintain a consistent medical practice and engage with patients. In addition, there are several types of seizures with different resulting complications.
If a physician or other medical practitioner experiences symptoms such as loss of awareness, loss of consciousness, falling, or involuntary twitching or jerking of muscles, shaking, those symptoms may be enough to disrupt a doctor from engaging in the practice of medicine, as well as prevent other career opportunities including research and consulting on matters.
Epilepsy Risks for Professionals
There are some underlying risk factors and causes of epilepsy. People with the following risk factors or conditions may be more likely to develop epilepsy:
- Genetic factors
- Head trauma
- Brain tumors
- Stroke
- Infection and other diseases that damage the brain
Treating Epilepsy in Professionals
Epilepsy is diagnosed through imaging tests of the brain and blood tests. The treating physician will also identify the type of seizure the patient suffers from in order to develop a treatment plan best suited for the specific type of seizures and resulting complications.
Medication can help reduce or eliminate seizures, but these medications come with many side effects that can prevent professionals from executing critical functions. Some of those side effects include:
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Loss of coordination
- Memory and speech problems
- Damage to other organs
If the part of the brain experiencing seizures is small and contained, surgery may be performed in order to remove damaged areas of the brain to prevent further seizures. Other stimulation therapies may be able to prevent seizures as well, but any treatment for epilepsy still incurs risk of complications that may prevent doctors from working.
FAQs About Epilepsy and Disability Insurance Claims
What specific evidence do I need for an epilepsy disability claim?
It will be important to closely examine the terms of the disability insurance policy to determine the most effective evidence to meet the burden of proving eligibility for benefits, which is why it is helpful to work with a Pennsylvania epilepsy attorney when filing a disability insurance claim. Generally, it will be necessary to present well-documented medical records demonstrating the extent of the condition, the severity of its effects, and the impairment present even with appropriate treatment.
My seizures are “controlled,” but the medication side effects make me incompetent at my job. Is that a valid claim?
When the only method of controlling debilitating symptoms causes side effects that also impair the ability to work, an experienced attorney can help present a claim that the insured qualifies for disability insurance benefits.
I am a licensed professional. Do I qualify for disability if I can still “work” but can no longer perform my specific occupation?
When a professional is able to perform some occupational functions but is unable to perform other material or substantial duties, eligibility for disability insurance benefits will depend on the language in the insurance policy and the arguments made to support the claim. When a policy provides “own occupation” coverage, a skilled Pennsylvania epilepsy attorney should be able to argue that the inability to perform the core functions of the job qualifies a professional to receive maximum benefits. Insurance companies are likely to insist otherwise, so it is important to effectively challenge incorrect or extra-contractual assertions.
What should I do if my disability claim for epilepsy is denied?
Denials of disability claims have become commonplace for many insurance companies, so it is important to act quickly on the right to appeal an adverse decision. You can then present additional or new evidence to overcome the disputes raised by the insurer. Representation by a knowledgeable, experienced attorney can make the pressured appeal process much easier on the claimant.
Contact a Pennsylvania Epilepsy Attorney for Help Collecting Disability Benefits
If you are a medical professional unable to work due to epilepsy, contact a Pennsylvania epilepsy attorney at Seltzer & Associates to discuss your claim for disability insurance benefits.