If you have been diagnosed with Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA), Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), or another vaccine-related injury or illness, understanding the steps to take following your diagnosis will be critical to your health and your financial stability. The treatment options for certain types of vaccine-related injuries and illnesses are limited; and, in order to recover as quickly and fully as possible, you need to make sure you receive appropriate treatment and avoid mistakes that could have negative long-term consequences.
7 Steps to Take Following a Vaccine-Related Injury or Illness Diagnosis
Here are seven steps you can take to protect your health and your legal rights if you have been diagnosed with a vaccine-related injury or illness:
1. Follow Your Doctor’s Advice
Regardless of your specific diagnosis, if you have experienced a vaccine-related injury or illness, it is critically important for you to follow your doctor’s advice. If you skip treatment sessions, ignore your prescriptions or return to work too soon, you could exacerbate your injury or illness.
2. Seek a Second Opinion, If Necessary
Vaccine-related injuries and illnesses are unique. If you are not satisfied with the quality of your medical care, or if you have questions about your doctor’s advice, you should consider seeking a second opinion from a specialist. It is your health, and you need to feel confident in your course of treatment.
3. Determine Whether You are at Risk for Future Vaccine-Related Injuries or Illnesses
Now is also a good time to determine whether you should continue to get vaccinated or you may be at risk for future vaccine-related injuries or illnesses. While some vaccine-related injuries are not related to a person’s individual biology (such as most forms of SIRVA), being diagnosed with GBS or certain other injuries or illnesses may mean that the risks of future vaccinations outweigh the benefits.
4. Learn about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)
For most individuals, seeking financial compensation for a vaccine-related injury or illness means filing a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). Our blog provides a wealth of information for individuals entitled to compensation under the VICP.
5. Keep a File of Your Medical and Employment Records
Under the VICP, individuals diagnosed with vaccine-related injuries and illnesses can seek financial compensation for their (i) medical bills, (ii) loss of income, and (iii) pain and suffering. To make sure you identify all of the losses you are entitled to recover, you should get in the habit of collecting your medical and employment records.
6. Keep a Log of Your Daily Pain and Limitations
Calculating damages for pain and suffering is not a straightforward process. But, generally speaking, the more information you have about the various ways your injury or illness impacts your life, the more you will be able to recover. As a result, for purposes of your VICP claim, it can be beneficial to keep a log of your daily pain levels, days you miss from work, child-related events you are unable to attend, and any other day-to-day effects of your injury or illness.
7. Schedule a Free Consultation with a Vaccine Injury Lawyer
Finally, in order to avoid mistakes that could jeopardize your recovery and get started with your VICP claim as soon as possible, you should schedule a consultation with an experienced vaccine injury lawyer. Your consultation should be free; and, since the VICP pays claimants’ legal fees separately from their awards of financial compensation, hiring legal representation should come at little or no out of pocket cost to you.
Contact Us for More Information
If you would like more information about filing a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), please contact us to schedule your free initial consultation. With offices in Washington D.C., we represent VICP claimants nationwide. To request an appointment with vaccine injury lawyer Leah V. Durant, please call (202) 800-1711 or get in touch 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 the other attorneys in her firm 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.