No one wants to need a lawyer or be involved in a legal dispute. Unfortunately, many of the vaccine injured face legal challenges ranging from unemployment compensation and disability to infringement of their First Amendment rights to share their experience on social media. Further, navigating the legal system is a daunting task even for the healthiest of individuals. It can be nearly impossible for the vaccine injured. Understanding some basics may be extremely beneficial for the vaccine injured just beginning their search for the representation.
What kind of lawyer do I need?
The vaccine injured commonly need attorneys in the following fields:
Employment
The area of legal practice known as employment law covers the rights, obligations, and responsibilities within the employer-employee relationship. Employment laws includes topics like wages, unemployment compensation, workplace safety, discrimination, and wrongful termination.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), your employer cannot discriminate against you because of your vaccine injury. If you have been either mistreated or fired by your employer because of your injured status, an employment lawyer may be right for you.
Disability
In addition to employment, the ADA also prohibits discrimination against the disabled in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
If you believe you have been discriminated against in any area of public life because of your vaccine injury, a disability attorney will be able to explain your rights and advocate on your behalf.
Social Security Disability
For many of the vaccine injured, their ability to make a living has been significantly limited or completely destroyed. Programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) may be available for those who are unable to work because of their vaccine injury. Insight from an attorney specializing in these programs may help you decide whether and when to apply for these important benefits. More importantly, should your disability claim be denied, an attorney may make the difference in winning your case on appeal.
Bankruptcy
Sadly, between employment loss and medical bills, the vaccine injured are often left with no choice but to declare bankruptcy. Because successfully navigating the bankruptcy code requires specific detailed expertise, it is important to find a specialist in this field. A bankruptcy attorney will also be able to provide you with the pros and cons of filing for bankruptcy versus the more common strategy of debt consolidation.
Personal Injury
Unfortunately, under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (“PREP Act”) vaccine manufacturers such as Pfizer and Moderna cannot be held liable for injuries caused by their products (except for willful misconduct). React 19 continues to collaborate with top vaccine attorneys to advocate for the vaccine injured as this legal landscape evolves.
How do I find the right attorney for me?
Like anything else, Google is often a good place to start the search for legal representation. In addition, state and local bar associations can often supply tailored recommendations to the right attorney in your area. Further, local bar associations may have insight into local legal aid clinics not easily accessible through basic search engines. The American Bar Association Attorney Directory is an excellent place to start this process. Please visit our legal resources page to access this directory as well as other vaccine specific legal organizations.
How to Find Legal Support
