Learn About Your Legal Rights from an Experienced Frozen Shoulder After Vaccine Lawyer

Adhesive capsulitis, more commonly known as “frozen shoulder,” is a risk for anyone who receives a vaccine injection in the shoulder. Errors during vaccine administration can cause inflammation in the shoulder, and this inflammation can potentially cause stiffness, limited mobility and a variety of other issues. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis following an immunization, a frozen shoulder after vaccine lawyer may be able to help you obtain compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).

The VICP covers frozen shoulder from most CDC-recommended vaccines—including the flu shot, hepatitis vaccines, tetanus vaccines and MMR vaccines, among others. But, time limits and other restrictions apply, so it is important to work with an experienced lawyer who can help you seek the full compensation you deserve.

Diagnosing Frozen Shoulder as a Type of SIRVA

While frozen shoulder can be a vaccine-related injury, it can have a variety of non-vaccine-related causes as well. With this in mind, if you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of frozen shoulder following a vaccination, you should be sure to inform your (or your loved one’s) doctor of the vaccination when seeking treatment.

When frozen shoulder results from a vaccination, it is classified as a type of shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). This is important for filing a VICP claim, as we discuss in greater detail below. The typical signs of frozen shoulder resulting from an error during vaccine administration include:

  • Severe pain (much more significant than the mild pain typically experienced following a vaccine injection); and,
  • Extremely limited mobility (or complete immobility) of the shoulder joint, with many vaccine recipients’ shoulder mobility lessening over time.

These symptoms result from inflammation caused by improper vaccine administration. As the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) explains, “[i]n frozen shoulder, the shoulder capsule thickens and becomes stiff and tight. Thick bands of tissue — called adhesions — develop.” As these adhesions develop and then gradually go away, most vaccine recipients will experience three “stages” of adhesive capsulitis following an immunization:

  • “Freezing” – During this stage, which can last anywhere from several weeks to several months, the vaccine recipient’s pain will worsen as they continue to lose range of motion in the shoulder.
  • “Frozen” – After the freezing stage, the shoulder will typically stay frozen for several months. As the AAOS explains, while the vaccine recipient’s pain “may actually improve during this stage . . . daily activities may be very difficult.”
  • “Thawing” – The third and final stage of adhesive capsulitis is thawing. During this stage, the vaccine recipient’s range of motion gradually improves, returning to “normal or close to normal strength and motion” over a period of six months to two years.

In total, frozen shoulder can negatively impact vaccine recipients’ lives for three years or longer in many cases, leading to significant financial and non-financial costs during this time. This makes it critical for vaccine recipients to ensure not only that they have an accurate understanding of their medical needs, but that they have an accurate understanding of their legal rights as well.

Filing a Frozen Shoulder Claim Under the VICP

The VICP is a federal government program that pays compensation to eligible claimants who have incurred financial and non-financial costs due to vaccine-related injuries, including frozen shoulder and other forms of SIRVA. It covers most vaccines that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend for routine administration, though the COVID vaccines are a notable exception.

To file a VICP claim for frozen shoulder, you must be able to prove that the first symptoms of your (or your loved one’s) medical condition onset within 48 hours of vaccination. You must also file your claim before the statute of limitations expires, which gives you three years from the onset of symptoms.
Under the VICP, individuals who have claims for frozen shoulder can seek financial compensation for their (or their loved one’s) present and future:

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

Calculating just compensation for the years’ worth of financial and non-financial costs you are likely to incur as a result of a frozen shoulder diagnosis is not easy. This is just one of several reasons why it is important to hire an experienced frozen shoulder after vaccine lawyer to help you.

Hiring a Lawyer to Represent You

If you have a VICP claim for frozen shoulder, calculating the value of your claim is just one of several ways an experienced frozen shoulder after vaccine lawyer will be able to help. Here are some more important facts you should know about seeking legal representation:

1 Your Initial Consultation is Completely Free and Risk-Free

Your initial consultation with a frozen shoulder after vaccine lawyer is completely free. It is also completely risk-free, meaning that you have no reason not to talk to a lawyer about your legal rights.

2. Your Lawyer Can Help You Make Informed Decisions

From helping you decide whether to file a VICP claim to helping you decide how much financial compensation to seek in your claim, your lawyer can help you make informed decisions every step of the way.

3. Hiring a Lawyer to Handle Your VICP Claim Costs You Nothing

If you decide to hire a lawyer for your VICP, doing so will cost you nothing. You will not have to pay anything out-of-pocket; and, if your claim is successful, the VICP will pay your lawyer’s fees separately from your compensation award.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Frozen Shoulder After Vaccine Lawyer Today

If you would like to schedule a free consultation about filing a VICP claim for adhesive capsulitis, we encourage you to contact us promptly. Once you get in touch, we will arrange for you to speak with a frozen shoulder after vaccine lawyer in confidence as soon as possible. To start the process, give us a call at 202-775-9200 or request an appointment online today.