Vaccine Injury
Vaccine Injury Attorney
Serving Philadelphia And New Jersey
Most of us don’t even think about it. Before cold and flu season, we get a flu shot. Of course, there is a release you sign before getting a flu shot or any vaccine. But, sometimes there are problems with how a vaccine is administered. You may be asking yourself “what are my options after a vaccine injury?”
Vaccine Injuries In The News
NBC recently ran a story about vaccine injuries. In some cases, the person who administers a vaccine makes a mistake. When the doctor, nurse, or pharmacist makes a mistake people are injured.
While the NCVP may pay injury victims, there is no way to report the injury to the vaccine administrator. This means the person usually doesn’t know they made a mistake. If they don’t know they made a mistake, in some cases, they continue to repeat the mistake. This creates the potential to injure more people.
Vaccine Injury Cases
Injuries do happen. Many things can go wrong during the preparation and injection of a vaccine. Each year, vaccine injuries rise. In 2017, more than 5,000 court cases involved vaccine injury. Of those cases, 3,583 were awarded compensation.
Vaccine Injury Liability
When a person suffers an injury because of a vaccine, they have few options. This is because the government protects vaccine manufacturers and doctors who administer the vaccine. Vaccine injury claims are handled by the National Vaccine Compensation Program (NVCP).
Not every vaccine is covered under the NVCP umbrella, but many are. The flu shot, hepatitis A and B, HPV, measles, mumps, and rubella are all protected under NVCP. Any claims of vaccination injuries must be made to the National Vaccine Compensation Program.
The National Vaccine Compensation Program
The NVCP operates to help people who were injured by a vaccine. Those injured by a vaccine don’t need to prove who hurt them. However, they must prove they were injured by the vaccine. While the NVCP protects vaccine manufacturers and doctors from lawsuits, it also understands that vaccine injuries happen. The NVCP website provides a lot of useful information for people with vaccine injuries.
Types Of Vaccine Injuries
Various side effects can happen after a vaccine. Some effects are short-term while others are a permanent injury. Guillain- Barre Syndrome (GBS) is common after a flu vaccine. Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) is another common flu vaccine injury. There are many types of injuries that can happen because of a vaccine. In some cases, death can occur.
Temporary side-effects are not usually considered injuries. Anyone with long-term or permanent injury resulting from a vaccine can be eligible for compensation. Additionally, in cases of severe brain injury, coma, or death, loved ones may file a claim.
Vaccine Injury Claim Limitations
While regulations have made it easier to file a vaccine injury claim, there is still a time limit. Individuals who were injured by a vaccine have up to two years to file a claim. A 2017 revision allows people with older vaccine injuries to file a claim. If a person injured after 2009 didn’t file a claim or had their claim rejected, they may file again.
What To Do After A Vaccine Injury
Work with a doctor. While you may not trust the doctor who administered the vaccine, it’s important to establish your injury is vaccine-related. Continue treatment as recommended by your doctor. If it makes you more comfortable, get a second opinion.
Discuss your situation with a vaccine injury attorney. An injury attorney can help you understand your options. Additionally, they can point you in the right direction if the claim is something you want to handle on your own. But, it’s important to remember the NVCP program pays the cost of attorney representation.
Philadelphia and New Jersey Vaccine Injury Law Firm
The legal team at Kane & Silverman work hard to provide the best results in your case. Our vaccine injury experts can help you. Call or text us today to set up your free and confidential consultation. Reach us anytime at 215-232-1000. If you prefer, fill out our online form and our legal team will contact you. We have offices in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
We understand what you’re going through and we’re here to help.