Introduction to Intramuscular (IM) Injections

Intramuscular injections are shots that deliver medicine directly into the muscle. The injection is used when intravenous injections can’t be administered because the drug irritates the vein or a suitable vein can’t be located.

With IM injections, the body also absorbs drugs faster because muscle tissues have a greater blood supply than tissues under the skin. Intramuscular injections are usually used to administer vaccines because vaccines are supposed to travel through that type of tissue.

Most vaccine shots target specific muscles. Once the vaccine is in the muscle cells, it instructs these cells to create a spike protein of the vaccine. In response, the body produces antibodies that can recognize and fight the disease you’re vaccinating against if you come into contact with it.

When a vaccine shot misses the muscle, it might lead to pain, bruising, swelling, and infection. If you experienced complications after a missed muscle injection, you might file a lawsuit against the healthcare provider who gave you the injection. Consider getting help from a vaccine attorney to discover all your legal options.

When an IM Injection Leads to Injury: Your Legal Options in California

Most intramuscular injections are routine, but errors in technique, medication selection, dosage, or aftercare can cause serious and sometimes lasting harm. If you or a loved one experienced complications after an IM injection—especially when symptoms were dismissed or you weren’t properly informed of risks—you may have the right to pursue compensation through a medical malpractice or negligence claim.

Common IM Injection Mistakes That May Support a Claim

• Wrong medication or dose (including mix-ups between patients or incorrect concentration)
• Improper injection site or depth leading to nerve damage, muscle injury, or vascular complications
• Poor sterile technique contributing to infection or abscess formation
• Failure to screen for contraindications (allergies, bleeding risk, medication interactions)
• Inadequate monitoring and follow-up when a patient reports escalating pain, swelling, numbness, or weakness

Warning Signs You Should Not Ignore

Seek medical care promptly if you experience severe or worsening symptoms after an injection. From a legal perspective, early evaluation also helps document what happened and why. Red flags can include:

• Persistent numbness, tingling, or weakness in an arm or leg
• Sharp, radiating pain that doesn’t improve
• Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, or fever
• Limited mobility or loss of function near the injection area
• Scarring or tissue damage requiring additional treatment

How Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates Can Help

Our Beverly Hills team focuses on building clear, evidence-based cases. We can help you:

• Identify whether the standard of care was violated by reviewing medical records and injection documentation
• Work with qualified medical experts to connect the error to the injury (causation)
• Calculate full damages, including medical bills, lost income, future care needs, and pain and suffering
• Handle insurers and defendants so you can focus on recovery

Time matters. California medical malpractice claims are subject to strict deadlines and notice requirements. If you suspect an IM injection error caused harm, contacting a lawyer sooner can help preserve records and protect your ability to recover damages.