Vaccination Injury in Rapid City, SD

Vaccines represent a giant leap forward in all areas of society. They have extended life expectancies, and staved off a harder existence for many people. Still, there are rare occasions when the administration of a vaccine can cause an injury. If this has happened to you, you may want to contact an experienced attorney in Rapid City.

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 Rapid City, South Dakota 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 Rapid City. 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 Rapid City vaccination injury lawyer.

Reactive Arthritis

According to the Center for Disease Control, certain individuals may experience joint pain after receiving a vaccine. This type of localized inflammation is rare, but does occur from time to time. If this persists, you should contact a local healthcare provider.

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, ADEM occurs when there is a brief but widespread inflammation that attacks the brain and spinal cord. This is generally treated by applying corticosteroid therapy to reduce the inflammation.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Rapid City, SD 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

Rapid City 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?

Long Covid

While the Covid-19 vaccine has helped many people fight off the disease, there have been recorded cases where the Covid-19 injection has actually resulted in Long Covid for the recipient. This is generally categorized by muscle weakness, sensory problems, headaches, fatigue, and even heart inflammation.

Tetanus

Certain vaccines contain a tetanus toxoid, such as DTP, DT, or TT. These toxins can, in rare cases, cause shoulder pain, anaphylaxis, brachial neuropathy, and even vasovagal syncope. Certain symptoms, like shoulder pain, will present within the first 48 hours. However, it could take brachial neuropathy 28 days to present.

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 Rapid City, South Dakota, 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 Rapid City 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.

Vaccine injuries can be serious, and should be taken seriously. If you are living in Rapid City, and have been injured during the administration of a vaccine, it may be in your best interest to retain the counsel of an experienced Rapid City attorney. He or she can begin by filing your case with the U.S. District Court for South Dakota.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Rapid City, South Dakota

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 Rapid City, SD 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 South Dakota 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!