In Parts 1 and 2 of our Ultimate Guide to Filing a Vaccine Injury Claim, we discussed the eligibility criteria for filing a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) and the steps involved in seeking compensation under the VICP. Here in Part 3, we are discussing the types of compensation that are available to individuals and families that are struggling to cope with the effects of vaccine-related illnesses and injuries.
3 Types of Financial Compensation Available Under the VICP
As we discussed in Part 2, there are three primary forms of financial compensation available under the VICP. These are:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
When you have a VICP claim, you are entitled to compensation not only for the losses you incur through the date that you file your claim, but for the losses you are likely to incur in the future as well. This makes it particularly important to work with a vaccine lawyer who has experience calculating just compensation for the long-term effects of vaccine-related illnesses and injuries. Additionally, once you accept a settlement or receive an award from the Vaccine Court, your claim is over, and you will not have the opportunity to seek additional compensation in the future.
1. Calculating Your Medical Expenses
Calculating your medical expenses is the most straightforward aspect of determining how much you can recover, but it still involves a number of challenges. These challenges relate primarily to determining your medical needs in the future. In order to ensure that you will have the financial resources you need to pay all of the medical bills associated with your vaccine-related illness or injury, your lawyer will need to work with your doctor to understand what forms of treatment, rehabilitation and therapy will be necessary in the years or decades to come.
2. Calculating Your Loss of Income
Similarly, calculating your loss of income involves not only adding up the days or hours you have missed from work to date, but also understanding the long-term disabling effects of your illness or injury. If your illness or injury will prevent you from working in the future, then your attorney will need to calculate adequate compensation based upon your current income and the number of days, months or years your doctors expect you to be out of work.
3. Calculating the Financial Value of Your Pain and Suffering
Calculating the financial value of your pain and suffering is unlike calculating your medical expenses or loss of income. A number of different methods are used, and your attorney will need to decide on the best approach for seeking maximum compensation. However, in all cases, pain and suffering awards under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program are capped at $250,000.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation about Your Vaccine Injury Claim
We hope you have found this Ultimate Guide to Filing a Vaccine Injury Claim useful; and, if you have questions about filing a claim, we encourage you to get in touch. To schedule a free initial consultation with national vaccine lawyer Leah V. Durant, please call 202-800-1711 or tell us about your claim 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 her staff 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.
Categories: National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
Leah Durant 
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