The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found that Camp Lejeune and MCAS provided tainted drinking water to servicemembers, civilian personnel, and their families between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
The base’s industrial operations, several leaking storage tanks, and a nearby dry cleaner all contributed to the pollution. Trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride, and benzene are only a few of the dangerous chemicals that have been identified in the drinking water.
Water contamination can have serious health consequences and your quality of life may suffer as a result. You can get counsel from a St. Augustine personal injury lawyer at Fasig Brooks in St. Augustine. If you need assistance filing a lawsuit or applying for medical benefits, we’re here to help.
You Can Get Legal Assistance for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Injuries
More than 400,000 disability claims by Marines who were affected by chemical exposure while stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, according to the United States Veterans Administration.
If you were a Marine stationed at this North Carolina facility who has just received the devastating news that you have been diagnosed with a serious illness, you are truly not alone.
You have legal options, and a St. Augustine Camp Lejeune water contamination attorney can assist you.
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How Can an Attorney Assist Me With Camp Lejeune VA Disability and Health Benefits?
A Camp Lejeune lawsuit lawyer in St. Augustine is able to collect the relevant data, military records, and medical history in order to develop a legal argument.
This might help you construct a strong case for an appeal or give you a legal channel to demand adequate and fair recompense for your damages.
A lawyer can assist you in gathering evidence such as:
- VA medical records
- Compensation & Pension exam results
- Service personnel records (i.e., establishing that you served at Camp Lejeune during the specified period)
- Research information used to pass the initial legislation and establish presumptive conditions
- Private medical records
- Lay statements
It takes the right evidence and paperwork to support your claim for compensation. A lawyer may examine this documentation and craft the appropriate legal defense to obtain the highest level of VA Health and Disability Benefits for diseases caused by Camp Lejeune water contamination.
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How Can an Attorney Help Me File a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?
Because a legal action requires you to demonstrate a connection between your ailment and the polluted wells, getting compensation through a Camp Lejeune water pollution lawsuit may be more difficult than applying for VA benefits.
Every part of your case can be handled by one of our attorneys. A St. Augustine Camp Lejeune toxic water lawsuit lawyer can:
- Obtain medical documentation demonstrating your disease is due to Camp Lejeune water exposure
- We will answer your questions, resolve your issues, and provide you with frequent case updates
- Fight for a favorable settlement outside of court or represent you in court
- Find and speak with witnesses who can attest to your condition or its link to Camp Lejeune
- File your case before the Camp Lejeune justice act of 2022’s deadlines (the pact act)
- Assemble scientific proof connecting your condition to elements present in the base’s on-base water wells
- Assist you in making an application for VA medical or disability benefits or in making an appeal for claims that have been refused
- Obtain testimony from your physicians and other medical experts
- Determine and quantify the damages you and your loved ones are owed
- Use housing documents, military records, or other paperwork to demonstrate that you were a base resident or employee during the time of the contamination
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The PACT Act Allows You to File a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
The SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 was signed into law on August 10, 2022. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (PACT Act), permits people exposed to Camp Lejeune water contamination to seek justice through legal action.
Those formerly limited by North Carolina’s statute of limitations may now pursue a lawsuit if they were affected by toxic water wells. Claimants now have two years from the enactment of the PACT Act, or 180 days after getting a denial of medical or disability benefits to file a lawsuit.
Can I Sue the Government for My Camp Lejeune Injuries and Losses?
New rules empower Camp Lejeune water contamination victims to sue the federal government. This is the sole case in which wounded individuals can sue the government for chemical exposure and other injuries sustained in the military or on a military installation.
Typically, the Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims process must be followed. However, the poisoned wells harmed more than just military personnel. Additionally, family members and contractors may have been impacted.
If you are a military member, the VA may be able to provide you with medical expenditure coverage and disability benefits for certain conditions. Your disability claim is unaffected by filing a lawsuit for injuries caused by polluted water.
Who May Pursue Legal Action for Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Injuries?
Anyone who has lived or worked at the base for a total of at least 30 days is eligible. Veterans, Marines, Guardsmen, their families, veterans’ descendants, and anybody else who came into contact with Camp Lejeune’s water for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, are included in this.
You can also be entitled to compensation if you or a loved one was born with birth abnormalities you think were brought on by contact with the Camp Lejeune water supply.
What Damages Could I Recover Through a Lawsuit?
Those who want to file lawsuits may now seek compensation for non-economic losses in addition to the cost of injuries. This has been a very lengthy battle for the Marines and their families, but they may now lawfully claim compensation for losses including:
Pain and Suffering
Compensation can help with the suffering caused by your health, the discomfort you may experience while undergoing treatment, the time it may take to recover from your illness, and the likelihood of a full recovery.
Impairment or Disfigurement
Factors that can be taken into account include the loss of hearing or sight, or the onset of any other physical handicap that makes it difficult to participate in the activities and hobbies that formerly brought you pleasure.
In calculating your non-monetary losses, you should include the fact that you may no longer be able to participate in and derive satisfaction from the things you formerly enjoyed.
Mental Suffering, Psychological Expenses
It can be stressful to be diagnosed with serious and fatal illnesses. When a terrible incident occurs in your life, your mental health will be affected. PTSD, sadness, anxiety, insomnia, and extreme fear can have a significant impact on one’s lifestyle. Your mental suffering should be compensated.
Loss of Companionship and Loss of Consortium
When a disease or traumatic incident impacts your life, you may lose your loved one’s company, affection, and care. For this loss, spouses concerned in these circumstances may be granted damages.
What Was Found in Camp Lejeune’s Water?
The polluted water problem on the North Carolina military post lasted for decades, but its full scope was not recognized until 1982. Although the Marine Corps discovered volatile organic compounds in the water supply in 1982, it didn’t act to stop using the tainted wells until 1985.
For decades, these contaminants have been seeping into the groundwater supply. These hazardous chemicals and cancer-causing agents included:
- Trichloroethylene
- Tetrachloroethylene
- Benzene
- Vinyl Chloride
Since 1953, residents and workers in the region have been exposed to harmful substances in the water. As it made its way through the pipes and out of people’s faucets, it contaminated the only supply of drinkable water in the base’s residences.
As time went on, investigators determined that the chemicals originated from a variety of different sources, including a dry cleaning shop outside of the base that discharged chemicals into the water, industrial accidents, local waste disposal facilities, and leaky underground storage tanks.
Health Conditions Related to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Veterans and their families have had access to VA health care benefits since 2012 for 15 ailments thought to be connected to the Camp Lejeune water contamination. These recognized ailments include:
- Renal toxicity
- Kidney cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Bladder cancer
- Miscarriage
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Hepatic steatosis
- Female infertility
- Breast cancer
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Lung cancer
- Scleroderma
- Esophageal cancer
The sole requirements for applicants are that they have medical documents demonstrating that they have a qualifying ailment and that they have lived or worked on base for 30 or more cumulative days between August 1954 and December 1987.
They are not required to offer any more proof or paperwork tying their disease to their time in the military or on post. However, a Camp Lejeune lawsuit lawyer in St. Augustine can help you if your claim is denied or if you want to pursue compensation for your pain and other damages.
Are There Camp Lejeune Toxic Water-Related Conditions that Result in Automatic Qualification for Disability?
The following eight presumptive Camp Lejeune water pollution conditions also automatically qualify veterans, reservists, and guardsmen for disability benefits:
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Adult leukemia
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Kidney cancer
Many people wrongly believe they are ineligible for benefits or disability from the VA if their ailment is not included on this list.
Even though there are other health complications linked to the pollution, you must convince VA of your claim and several appeals may be required. If you are having problems with benefit approval, you can get help from a Camp Lejeune lawsuit attorney in St. Augustine.
Could Infertility Be Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?
Countless military men, contractors, and their families may have been exposed to chemicals in the contaminated water that was found in the wells at Camp Lejeune. These toxins may have caused miscarriages, infertility, and other disorders.
Those who have been harmed as a result of the polluted water at Camp Lejeune can now sue the federal government according to recent legislation.
Does a Camp Lejeune Class Action Lawsuit Exist?
No. Because there are so many possible claimants, there is a misperception that there is a Camp Lejeune class action case. In a class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs do not have a say in which legal firm will represent them or how the case will be resolved.
Class action lawsuits are only appropriate when several plaintiffs are suing the defendant for relatively modest amounts of money. It is sensible for a law firm to aggregate these matters together since it would not be financially possible to pursue each claim separately.
Lots of these claims have potential complexities and they are likely to involve higher financial stakes. As a result, no Camp Lejeune class action case exists. Therefore, qualified persons seeking compensation must submit their own claims.
Contact a St. Augustine Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Lawyer to Learn More
We can assist you throughout every phase of your claim, the Law Offices Fasig Brooks want you to know. We may be able to assist you if you need assistance drafting an appeal for a refused claim or need to retain legal counsel to take legal action.
The only thing we want you to worry about is getting healthier or being compensated for any lasting service-related health issues. Don’t lose hope if you are stressed following a diagnosis. We are happy to answer any questions or help if we can.
If you are presently being refused benefits or disability but feel your suffering is a result of Camp Lejeune polluted water, we will evaluate your case. There is no commitment or risk associated with the free consultation.
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