Vaccination Injury in Lexington, KY
Are you concerned about the time it may take to receive compensation for a vaccine injury?
The HRSA states the average time a petitioner waits for their first payment is two to three years. That leaves a significant gap between when someone in Lexington suffers and receives financial relief.
Situations like this one often call for the help of a local attorney with excellent connections. Discover what they can do to help you through this extensive process in this guide.
What Is a Vaccination Injury?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports vaccines contain a weakened or dead version of a disease. After injection, the body develops antibodies to specific illnesses. Effectively, this makes the recipient immune from the disease.
Most people who receive vaccines have a successful immunity boost for many illnesses. While vaccines may contain the disease, some recipients develop health problems. A qualified Lexington, Kentucky vaccination injury lawyer can help determine if you have a claim.
It can be onerous to determine how many individuals suffer harm from vaccines annually in Lexington. Furthermore, linking a vaccine injury to ongoing medical issues can be challenging. Nonetheless, the federal government offers a Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to citizens.
What Are Some Common Types of Vaccination Injuries?
It is perfectly normal to experience some minor soreness around the vaccine injection site. However, vaccines should not cause significant harm. If you or a loved one has experienced pain, loss of body functions or even death, you should talk to an experienced Lexington vaccination injury lawyer.
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
The American Journal of Managed Care recognizes that CIDP can be challenging to diagnose. However, it is critical to be accurate and protect patients in Lexington. The nerve damage this condition can cause can escalate to paralysis.
Vasovagal Syncope
St. Elizabeth Healthcare describes vasovagal syncope as fainting in reaction to emotional distress. Hence, vaccine recipients in Lexington with needle phobias may have a rough experience. In the worst-case scenario, they may break bones or strike their head on a blunt object after losing consciousness.
Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Lexington, KY health professionals administer the vaccine. Alternatively, the contents of the vaccine can cause harm.
Symptoms may range from ongoing pain at the injection site to a complete loss of muscle movement in the arm. While often temporary, vaccination-related shoulder injuries may be permanent.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Research has linked Guillain-Barre syndrome to different types of vaccines, one of which is the annual flu shot. The condition happens when the immune system attacks itself, causing damage to nerve cells.
While the symptoms vary, they often include paralysis and muscular weakness. These issues typically resolve within a few weeks. But, Guillain-Barre syndrome may cause permanent nerve damage. This injury may result in loss of motion, paralysis, and other ongoing complications.
Anaphylaxis
Lexington healthcare professionals should check for known patient allergies. If a vaccine recipient happens to be allergic to the ingredients in the vaccine, the injection may cause a reaction. Symptoms may include hives, fevers, fainting, shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is potentially life-threatening. Regrettably, an individual may not realize they have an allergy until after receiving the vaccination.
Encephalitis
Encephalitis sometimes happens when there is an infection in the body. It can also be part of the body’s response to an infection. This condition results in swelling of brain tissue.
Some common symptoms of encephalitis are pain, fever, headaches, fatigue, and weakness. While these problems may resolve in a few weeks, doctors must track this potentially life-threatening condition.
Myelitis
While encephalitis is swelling of the brain, myelitis involves spinal cord inflammation. Nonetheless, doctors and scientists do not completely understand the causes of myelitis.
Still, some patients have developed spinal cord inflammation after vaccine injection. Swelling around the spinal cord may cause a variety of complications. Symptoms may include paralysis, pain and loss of muscular control.
What Are Some of the Vaccines, Conditions, and Injuries Covered by Law?
Compensation for patients with a vaccination injury in Lexington depends on a few critical factors. Correspondingly, this section describes a few circumstances that would qualify.
Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) from MMR Vaccine
The initial symptoms of ITP are often mild and relatively uneventful. Regardless, the underlying problem of a low platelet count can be a significant problem. This condition means that even a simple cut could lead to excessive bleeding.
Accordingly, the CDC recommends patients with a history of thrombocytopenia take precautions. In the rare event that ITP happens, cases that begin 7-30 days from vaccination have eligibility for compensation.
Anaphylaxis from Hepatitis A Vaccines
The CDC rightfully asserts that Hepatitis A vaccines are safe and effective against the disease. The side effects are limited and can include symptoms like:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Swelling or tenderness at the injection site
As is the case with other medicines, patients in Lexington may have an allergic reaction. Cases that happen less than four hours after vaccination have coverage in the current Vaccine Injury Table.
Shoulder Injury from HPV Vaccines
Shoulder injuries after an HPV vaccination can be due to improper administration. A nurse or doctor who gives the injection too high can damage nerves and cause significant pain.
Medical research suggests a misdiagnosis is common for an injury like brachial neuritis. Therefore, patients in Lexington will need an airtight diagnosis to press their petition to the HRSA.
What Is the Legal Process for a Vaccination Injury?
Even if the symptoms you experienced after your vaccine are not in the above list, you may still have a vaccination injury.
If you have sustained an injury from a vaccination in Lexington, Kentucky, you should seek immediate medical attention. You should also seek a legal opinion as quickly as possible. A vaccine-related injury can result in extreme consequences that interfere with your life. Accordingly, you may be able to pursue financial compensation.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Hiring a qualified Lexington legal professional can help determine if you qualify for compensation.
A lawyer can also explain your other legal options. For example, you could file a lawsuit against the vaccine manufacturer. In other cases, you may sue the healthcare professional who administered the vaccine.
The claims process is very complex. If you do not properly assert your claim, you may receive a denial and jeopardize your odds of receiving compensation.
There are two judiciaries that may oversee these types of civil complaints from Lexington. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims or U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Kentucky may adjudicate.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Lexington, Kentucky
The purpose of a vaccine is to improve your quality of life by keeping you healthy. Unfortunately, if you suffer an injury after a vaccination, your life may never be the same again.
While you may be able to receive financial compensation for your vaccine injury, the process is not easy. Therefore, hiring an experienced Lexington, KY vaccine injury attorney is essential. It will greatly impact the quality of assistance and settlement you may receive.
If you are looking to hire a vaccination injury lawyer, we are here for you. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Kentucky state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
