Vaccine recipients eligible to file claims under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) can seek compensation for lost wages. This includes not only wages already lost, but also anticipated future lost wages. An experienced vaccine injury lawyer can help you take all the steps needed to pursue a successful VICP claim at no cost.

Vaccine injuries that require medical attention can result in significant loss of earnings. From going to the doctor to taking time off to recover, vaccine recipients diagnosed with vaccine-related medical conditions often miss days, weeks, or even months of work.

For some vaccine recipients, vaccine-related medical conditions can also cause long-term or permanent disabilities. In these cases, vaccine recipients may need to find a replacement for their normal source of income for years—or even decades. For those who are eligible, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) can serve as a much-needed source of financial recovery.

The VICP Covers Lost Wages from Vaccine-Related Injuries and Illnesses

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) provides financial recovery for eligible individuals diagnosed with vaccine-related injuries and illnesses. The VICP covers medical conditions caused by the vaccines listed on the Vaccine Injury Table, and it provides compensation for eligible claimants’ losses including:

  • Medical expenses and other out-of-pocket costs
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering

While compensation for pain and suffering under the VICP is capped at $250,000, eligible claimants can seek full compensation for their out-of-pocket costs and lost wages. This includes losses eligible claimants have already incurred and losses they are expected to incur in the future.

Calculating Past, Present and Future Lost Wages in a VICP Claim

Vaccine recipients with VICP claims must prove the losses they are entitled to recover. This is one reason it is important to work with an experienced vaccine injury lawyer throughout the process.

An experienced vaccine injury lawyer can help you collect all the documentation needed to pursue a claim for lost wages under the VICP. This includes (but is not limited to):

  • Employment Records, Paystubs and W-2s – Claimants must submit copies of their employment records to prove the lost wages they have already incurred. Claimants will also need documentation of their income history to calculate their anticipated lost future earnings.
  • Medical Records – Claimants’ medical records are key evidence for documenting their pain, long-term treatment needs, and any long-term or permanent disabilities. In some cases, claimants may need to see multiple specialists in order to obtain all of the documentation that is required.
  • Expert Reports and Testimony – In some cases, VICP claimants will also need to rely on their lawyer to engage experts who can prepare written reports or provide testimony regarding their injuries’ long-term physical and financial consequences. These experts can include doctors and financial planners, among others.

While documenting vaccine recipients’ anticipated lost future earnings adds complexity to pursuing a VICP claim, seeking compensation for these losses can be essential to managing the long-term effects of a vaccine-related injury or illness. An experienced vaccine injury lawyer can help, and VICP claimants can hire a lawyer to represent them at no cost.

FAQs: Seeking Compensation for Lost Wages Under the VICP

When can vaccine recipients seek compensation for their lost wages under the VICP?

Vaccine recipients can seek compensation for their lost wages after being diagnosed with a medical condition linked to a vaccine listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. This includes widely recommended vaccines such as the MMR vaccine and the annual flu shot, though COVID-19 vaccines, travel vaccines, and certain other common vaccines are excluded.

Other eligibility criteria also apply, and claimants must prove all losses they are entitled to recover. As a result, we strongly recommend working with an experienced vaccine injury lawyer.

How much can vaccine recipients recover for their lost wages under the VICP?

Compensation for lost wages under the VICP is calculated on a case-by-case basis. Vaccine recipients who are eligible to file a VICP claim should work closely with their lawyer to ensure that they have a clear and comprehensive understanding of the losses they are entitled to recover based on their individual circumstances.

What is involved in seeking compensation for lost wages under the VICP?

Seeking compensation for lost wages under the VICP involves filing a petition in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (the “Vaccine Court”). Claimants must also have comprehensive documentation of the losses they are entitled to recover. Most successful VICP claims settle, and we focus on settling our clients’ claims whenever possible. But we also seek compensation in the Vaccine Court when necessary.

How Our Law Firm Can Help

Our practice helps vaccine recipients and families seek compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). We handle all aspects of the process, including:

  • Determining our clients’ eligibility to file VICP claims
  • Gathering the documentation needed to pursue our clients’ VICP claims
  • Calculating the compensation our clients are entitled to recover
  • Filing our clients’ petitions in the Vaccine Court
  • Negotiating settlements and attending hearings at the Vaccine Court as necessary

We have helped numerous clients obtain settlements and verdicts under the VICP. Because the VICP pays claimants’ legal fees separately from their compensation awards, we can provide our services at no cost to our clients.

Schedule a Free, No-Obligation Consultation with a Vaccine Injury Lawyer

If you want to learn more about recovering lost wages under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), we invite you to get in touch. We represent vaccine recipients and families nationwide. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced vaccine injury lawyer at Law Offices of Leah V. Durant & Associates, call us at 202-775-9200 or tell us how we can reach you online today.