If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a vaccine-related illness or injury, it will be important to learn about your legal rights under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The VICP pays financial compensation to eligible vaccine recipients and their family members—and it covers most (but not all) CDC-recommended vaccines.
Attorney Leah Durant represents dozens of clients in VICP claims annually. She also publishes numerous articles on topics related to vaccine injuries and VICP claims each year. Here is a look back at some of the key insights she shared in 2023:
Understanding the Causes of Vaccine-Related Injuries and Illnesses
The causes of vaccine-related injuries and illnesses broadly fall into two categories. Vaccine recipients can experience unexpected consequences due to adverse reactions to vaccine ingredients, or they can suffer injuries due to errors during vaccine administration.
While the CDC’s recommended vaccines are generally considered safe for most people, there are some people who should not get vaccinated. Unfortunately, in many cases individuals won’t know that they are at risk for complications until it is too late. Similarly, while there are well-documented procedures for appropriately administering vaccines, healthcare providers make mistakes; and, here too, there is often little that vaccine recipients can do to protect themselves. This is especially true when vaccine recipients don’t know how to identify issues during the vaccine administration process.
With this in mind, it is a good idea for vaccine recipients and parents to familiarize themselves with the proper vaccine administration procedures. If you have concerns about what a healthcare provider is doing, you should not hesitate to speak up. Additionally, if you or a loved one experiences symptoms after an immunization, you should seek medical treatment promptly. To learn more, you can read:
Understanding the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)
While understanding the cause of a vaccine-related medical condition can be important for ensuring proper treatment, it often isn’t necessary when filing a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Under the VICP, vaccine recipients and families can file claims without proof of causation in most cases. As a result, regardless of whether you think your (or your loved one’s) healthcare provider made a mistake—or if you aren’t sure—you should not hesitate to speak with an attorney about filing a claim.
Although the VICP and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) are both federal programs that are designed to address vaccine-related risks, they are very different. VAERS is a tool for tracking vaccine-related complications, while the VICP provides a source of financial recovery for eligible individuals and families. To learn more about the VICP, you can read:
Understanding the Causes and Costs of Shoulder Injuries Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
Shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) are a class of vaccine-related injuries that result from errors such as using wrong-size needles, inserting needles at the wrong angle and injecting vaccines too high or too low on the upper arm. They are among the most common of all vaccine-related medical conditions. The VICP pays compensation for SIRVA resulting from all covered vaccines—and individuals diagnosed with SIRVA will be entitled to substantial compensation in many cases. To learn more about the causes and costs of SIRVA, you can read:
Understanding the Causes and Costs of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and Its Variants
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a potentially life-altering condition that has been linked to certain CDC-recommended vaccinations. There are many variants of GBS—including its chronic variant chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)—each of which presents its own unique set of risks and potential complications. Anyone who experiences symptoms of GBS or a GBS variant after getting vaccinated should see a doctor promptly, and they should also speak with an attorney promptly about recovering their short-term and long-term costs under the VICP. Learn more:
Understanding the Causes and Costs of Other Common Vaccine-Related Medical Conditions
Along with SIRVA and GBS (and its variants), the VICP covers several other vaccine-related medical conditions. These include brachial neuritis, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and polymyalgia rheumatica, among others. If you need to know more about filing a VICP claim for any of these medical conditions, you can read:
Understanding Your Legal Rights (and How to Protect Them) When Coping with the Effects of a Vaccine-Related Injury or Illness
Filing a successful VICP claim requires an informed approach and experienced legal representation. Claimants need clear evidence not only of their eligibility, but also of how much they are entitled to recover. To learn more about filing a VICP claim and how to choose an attorney to represent you, you can read:
Learn More in a Free and Confidential Consultation with Attorney Leah Durant
Attorney Leah Durant focuses her practice exclusively on helping individuals and families recover just compensation under the VICP. If you need to know more about filing a claim, we encourage you to get in touch. To schedule a free and confidential consultation at the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, please call 202-800-1711 or inquire online today.
Leah Durant Bio
Experienced litigation attorney Leah Durant focuses on representing clients in complex vaccine litigation matters. Leah Durant is the owner and principal attorney of the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, a litigation firm based in Washington, DC. Leah Durant and her staff represent clients and their families who suffer from vaccine-related injuries, adverse vaccine reactions and vaccine-related deaths. The Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC is dedicated to assisting individuals in recovering the highest level of compensation as quickly and efficiently as possible. To learn more, contact vaccine attorney Leah Durant today.