6 Questions To Ask Before You Hire a Vaccine Trial Lawyer

David Carney by David Carney, Partner of Green & Schafle

Deciding which lawyer to represent you for your vaccine injury can be an overwhelming and daunting process. There are many options across the country, but who is best suited to represent you for your particular case? When deciding how to choose a vaccine injury lawyer, ask yourself these questions: ### Is the lawyer licensed to practice in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and admitted to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims? Vaccine injury claims can only be filed in a specialized federal Vaccine Court called the United States Court of Federal Claims. No matter where you live, your case must be filed in this court instead of your local state or federal court. In addition, the lawyer handling your vaccine case must be approved and admitted into this Court in order to handle your vaccine case. Only a very small percentage of lawyers are admitted to practice in the vaccine court and determining if your potential lawyer is admitted to practice is essential. ### How much experience does the lawyer have handling vaccine cases in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims? Hiring a licensed vaccine lawyer who has the specific knowledge and skill set in filing these cases is extremely beneficial and critical. Vaccine cases require an attorney to have a specialized and advanced knowledge of the science by which a vaccine can cause an injury, a specialized familiarity with navigating the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the experience dealing with the Department of Health and Human Services and US Department of Justice attorneys that defend these cases. Only an experienced and licensed vaccine attorney with over 10+ years of experience is best equipped to represent your vaccine injury case. ### Is the lawyer a bona fide trial lawyer? Even though any trial can technically go to trial, that does not mean all lawyers are “trial lawyers.” A trial lawyer has obtained certain specialized skills and training over their career in taking depositions, engaging in client advocacy, advocating and litigating in the courtroom, and negotiating settlements at a high level. Trial lawyers have significantly more experience in the courtroom than other attorneys that typically deal with out-of-court settlements. In the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, the process has become exceedingly adversarial where claims are routinely contested based on either factual or scientific grounds. In order to combat those issues, having an experienced trial lawyer who can successfully prepare you and eyewitnesses for courtroom testimony and properly litigate the case at trial will provide you with the best chance to have a successful outcome. At Green & Schafle, our vaccine trial lawyers have extensive experience preparing witnesses and clients for testimony, engaging with world renowned medical experts to support vaccine injury cases, preparing fact and expert witnesses for trial, cross-examining government expert witnesses at trial and litigating cases fully at trial. Do not choose a lawyer that cannot credibly detail the cases they have taken to trial. You must feel confident that your lawyer will excel in the courtroom on your behalf. ### Is the lawyer dedicated to the vaccine injury litigation? Finding a lawyer that gives their everyday energy to the vaccine litigation is important. Many trial lawyers divide their concentrations into many areas of law leaving them unable to focus on any one individual area of law. At Green & Schafle, our vaccine trial lawyers spend 100% of their time on litigating vaccine injury cases in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, making them well versed in litigating key issues throughout the case, preparing for specialized vaccine trials, evaluating and filing necessary appeals of adverse decisions, and obtaining the fairest and most just compensation given the circumstances of a case. Our vaccine trial lawyers will always go the extra mile to ensure you receive the most compensation that you deserve given the facts of your case. ### Must I choose a vaccine lawyer that is in my city? Since all vaccine cases must be filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims, a licensed vaccine attorney can represent clients all across the United States, meaning that you do not need to necessarily choose the vaccine attorney in your area. At Green & Schafle, our vaccine attorneys can represent you no matter where you live. In so doing, our law firm provides the necessary accommodations for travel, videoconferencing technology, and any other case expense that arises. You will never have to pay out of pocket for us to represent your case. At the end of your case, attorney fees and costs are paid separately by the Vaccine Program so there is no cost or expense deducted from any settlement or award you will receive. ### Why should you choose the trial lawyers at Green & Schafle? Selecting a vaccine attorney to handle your vaccine injury case is the most important decision you will make associated with your vaccine lawsuit. You must do your due diligence to find the attorney who is licensed to practice in the United States Court of Federal Claims, who has years of experience litigating vaccine cases at a high level, and who will cover all necessary litigation expenses so that you can focus on treating for your injury. At Green & Schafle, our licensed vaccine attorney, David J. Carney, has over 12 years of experience litigating vaccine cases in the United States Court of Federal Claims and he has been the Vice President of the Vaccine Injured Petitioners Bar Association (the legal association dedicated to representing those injured by vaccines) since 2019. He regularly prosecutes challenging and catastrophic vaccine injuries to trial and works with the most renowned medical experts at some of the top institutions (Yale, Stanford, University of Southern California, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia and others) across the country. Mr. Carney routinely takes challenging cases and rare diseases to trial . Our vaccine attorneys will accommodate you at every phase, will travel to meet with you about your case so that you feel invested and educated about the vaccine process, and will waste no time prosecuting your case to resolution.
Request a Callback
×
Green & Schafle Client Feedback ()

Back to top
On This Page ×

What is the VICP? How does the VICP Work? What Vaccines are Covered by the VICP? How to File a Petition? Who Can File a Petition? What are the VICP Petition Steps? Do You Need a Lawyer to File a VICP Petition? What are the VICP Vaccine Injury Severity Requirements? What are the VICP Statute of Limitations? What are Vaccine Injury Settlements and Payouts?
Back to top