Despite being one of the most developed countries, the US has a fair share of environmental and climatic issues. According to CDC statistics, water contamination affects more than 7.2 million Americans every year, making it one of the most challenging issues for the government. The worst part is that pollutants reach homes through contaminated water supplies, even without the slightest hint.
When it comes to toxic water exposure, Camp Lejeune contamination emerges as one of the worst events in the country’s history. For more than three decades, Marines, their families, and workers residing at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune bore the brunt of exposure to toxic water.
The supplies at the location were laced with industrial chemicals, such as Trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. Tests established the presence of at least 70 toxic chemicals in the supplies. Prolonged exposure to these toxins led to deadly diseases like cancer, birth defects, and infertility in residents.
After decades of denying justice to victims and their families, the recent Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 brought a new lease of life for them. While the Act aims to compensate victims for their pain and suffering, it entails several complexities regarding eligibility, evidence, and settlement values. Being relatively new also adds to the complications.
As a Camp Lejeune victim, you can follow these checkpoints to ensure the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Assess Your Eligibility
Like any other personal injury compensation claim, eligibility is the cornerstone of a Camp Lejeune toxic water lawsuit. You can seek compensation only if you fulfill certain eligibility conditions. These include:
- You should have spent at least thirty days at Camp Lejeune between 1st August 1953 and 31st December 1987.
- The Act applies to military veterans, their families, and staff at the camp, but military personnel discharged dishonorably and their families do not qualify even if they were victims.
- You should have a diagnosis of one of the qualifying conditions (cancers of various types, renal toxicity, infertility, Parkinson’s disease, and more).
If you qualify according to these eligibility checkpoints, you can file a lawsuit to get the compensation you deserve.
Lawyers at TorHoerman Law recommend double-checking the dates and timelines to ensure eligibility. You should also have documentary evidence to establish your residence in the area within the period. Another thing they emphasize is medical proof to validate the link between your disease and toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune. Your medical records, healthcare information, and records on disability benefits are other key pieces of evidence to ensure optimal compensation.
Collaborate With an Experienced Lawyer
Considering the complexity of these lawsuits, you must collaborate with an experienced lawyer with a track record of Camp Lejeune lawsuits. Someone who knows the law inside out is in a better place to calculate your compensation value and ensure that you receive it. The settlement value should include the following:
- Medical bills for treatment of your disease
- Disability benefits
- Permanent disability
- Cost of pain and suffering
- Emotional damages
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity, companionship, and consortium
Although the compensation may vary from case to case, you can expect a payout between $10,000 and $500,000 depending on factors such as the severity of your condition and the strength of your case. Your lawyer can help you maximize the amount to cover your losses and damages.
Be Fast and Proactive
Ensuring a successful lawsuit is also about being fast and proactive. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act includes a statute of limitations victims need to comply with to receive compensation. You need to file a lawsuit within two years of the date of the Act. Conversely, you may file it two years from the date of a diagnosis if you have not been diagnosed with a qualifying health condition yet.
Failure to follow the deadline will likely bar you from claiming compensation. The best piece of advice is to consult a lawyer and ensure that your lawsuit is submitted on time. The last thing you want is to lose your compensation only by missing a deadline.
Summing Up
Camp Lejeune disaster had dire consequences, affecting more than a million residents and leaving them suffering for a lifetime. Fortunately, the American government has decided to make up for the negligence by compensating victims and families for their pain and suffering.
If you are one of them, you should not miss out on the chance. Connect with a Camp Lejeune lawyer sooner than later to file a claim and get the compensation that is rightfully yours. Follow these guidelines to maximize your claim value.
