If you, your spouse or your child has been diagnosed with a vaccine-related injury or illness, you may be thinking about hiring a lawyer. But, if you are like many people, you may have questions as well. Do you really need a lawyer? If so, when is the right time to hire one? What can a vaccine injury lawyer do to help, and what can you expect if you hire a lawyer to represent you or your family?

Following a Vaccine Injury Diagnosis, It is Important to Speak with a Lawyer Promptly

With regard to when to hire a lawyer, the answer is simple: You should hire a lawyer as soon as you learn that you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with a vaccine-related injury or illness. While you have up to three years to file a claim for a non-fatal injury or illness, there are several reasons why you will want to begin working on your claim as soon as possible.

Among them, in many cases, it is possible to establish your right to compensation without specifically proving that your (or your family member’s) vaccine caused the illness or injury in question. Under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), several types of illnesses and injuries are presumed to be vaccine-related if symptoms onset within a certain number of days or weeks following immunization. By hiring a lawyer who is familiar with the requirements of the VICP, you can ensure that your (or your family member’s) medical records adequately reflect the information that is required to pursue a claim without the need for additional proof of causation.

Other reasons to hire a vaccine injury lawyer promptly include:

  • It takes time to prepare your claim for filing with the VICP. The sooner your lawyer can get to work, the sooner he or she can file your claim with the Vaccine Court.
  • It takes time to successfully pursue a VICP claim. The time it takes to secure compensation under the VICP can vary widely, but, in any case, you can expect your claim to take several months, if not longer. Getting started now will ensure that you receive compensation as soon as possible.
  • You will need to document your (or your family’s) losses. Under the VICP, vaccine recipients and families can recover compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering. To ensure that you can maximize your financial recovery, you will need to begin working with a lawyer to fully document your (or your family’s) losses.

Our blog contains a wealth of additional information for individuals who have questions about hiring a vaccine injury lawyer. For more information about how a lawyer can help you and what you can expect when you file a claim under the VICP, you can read: 5 Things to Know if You Have Suffered a Vaccine Injury.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Vaccine Injury Lawyer Leah Durant

If you have any questions about filing a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, we encourage you to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. To speak with vaccine injury lawyer Leah Durant in confidence, please call 202-775-9200 or tell us how we can reach you online today.