FAQ

The Vaccine Injury Compensation Act established the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). This Act covers cases involving 17 different vaccines as indicated on the “Types of Vaccines” tab of our website.  

Assuming that the vaccine that caused your injury or illness is covered by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Act, you have come to the right place. 

Experienced vaccine attorneys, such as those in our law firm, will gather the medical documentation and vaccine administration record necessary to complete a Petition for filing in the United States Court of Federal Claims (USCFC). Additionally, we will attempt to answer all of your questions during this process.

An individual can file a claim without legal representation. The government utilizes Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys who defend each case. Therefore, it is wise to retain an experienced and reliable vaccine injury attorney to assist you through the process and who can make sure the rules and guidelines of the court be followed that the Special Masters (Judges) require.

The compensation under the law includes pain and suffering, loss of earnings, reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses (not reimbursed by insurance), as well as past and future life care plan costs including attendant care, home modifications, and adaptive devices as required. Additionally, no attorney’s fees or cost are charged to the injured party (Petitioner).

Vaccine injuries are rare when considering the number of vaccinations given nationwide. According to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“VICP”) statistics, less than 1% of vaccine doses result in adverse reactions. Many of these are not compensated since the adverse reaction lasts less than six months. Notwithstanding, many vaccine injuries are legitimate and must be fairly compensated.

Our law firm will advise you whether you have a case. It depends upon the type of vaccination you received, the timing of the adverse reaction, your current diagnosis, and whether you have achieved recovery. In complicated cases, an expert medical opinion will be necessary to determine the viability of a case.

There are two types of lawsuits possible for a vaccine injury. 

1. The most common is a Petition (complaint) filed before the United States Court of Federal Claims (”USCFC”) in Washington D.C. These cases are always defended by the Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys in the Vaccine Division. The DOJ employs approximately 35 attorneys. The Vaccine Division of the USCFC has 8 full-time Special Masters (Judges) who hear these cases. To file a federal case under the Vaccine Injury Program, it is wise to retain an experienced vaccine law firm to assist you as many cases need to be supported by expert medical testimony in order to succeed. Additionally, experienced attorneys know the potential value of a case when weighing the risk and likely compensation during settlement negotiations. 

2. The second type of vaccine lawsuit is under State Law for products liability, or personal injury. It involves paying the cost for experts and depositions and varying legal standards. It may be more difficult to prove with respect to those vaccines not covered by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Act. For now, the traditional court system may be the only legal recourse available for non-covered vaccines. The exception to this is for Covid-19 cases. Sadly, Covid-19 cases are covered by the very restrictive Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) which is nonjudicial. Our law firm does not represent individuals in any administrative nonjudicial program.

The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is designed to compensate individuals who experience a vaccine caused injury or illness. 

A Petition must be filed within three years after the onset of the symptoms attributed to the vaccination or two years within a death caused by a vaccination. 

Once a Petition (claim) is filed, it undergoes evaluation by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Respondent) and their attorneys from the Vaccine Division. The Court may require expert reports after which the case may be set for trial or settled.

If this case is won or settled, then an injured Petitioner may be entitled to pain and suffering, reimbursement of medical expenses, past and future lost wages, a life care plan funded annuity to cover future medical expenses such as attendant care and home modifications, and in rare cases a wrongful death benefit.

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Flu (Influenza), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Meningococcal, Pneumococcal, Polio, Rotavirus, and Varicella (Chickenpox).

For more information on vaccines included under the VICP, visit our page on Vaccines covered by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).