Charleston Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Lawyer

Victims of contaminated water at Camp Lejeune have suffered for decades from terrible diseases like cancer. Many have died, including hundreds of children. A new act now makes victims and their families eligible for compensation.

If you live in Charleston, NC, and you were exposed to water at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987, you’re eligible for compensation through the federal government. Claim your place in this historic lawsuit by speaking with our Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit lawyers in Charleston. MDSW is ready to help you.

What Is the New Act?

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, part of the PACT Act of 2022, gives victims and their families the opportunity to get compensation for toxic water exposure at Camp Lejeune. There are three things that you have to prove to become eligible:

• You or a loved one lived on base between 1953 and 1987 and were exposed to the contaminated water, even if you were in-utero
• The victim was exposed for 30 days or more
• The victim was sickened by the water

Primary caretakers of victims are eligible for compensation as well, as are children, even if they weren’t born yet. You do not have to be a member of the military to file a claim against the government under the act.

This act is the culmination of decades of studies and accusations from the victims about exposure to dozens of toxic chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune. Now is the time to act to get compensation for what you’ve experienced.

What Are the Major Chemicals in the Water?

The four chemicals found to have the most impact on Camp Lejeune’s water are:

• Trichloroethylene (TCE)
• Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
• Vinyl chloride (VC)
• Benzene

These are known carcinogens and have terrible effects on the human body. The amount found in the water was at least 280 times higher than the safe limit, and some chemicals were at a far higher amount.

For example, the EPA declared TCE a carcinogen in 2011, decades after its use. The safe limit is 5 parts per billion, but a sample of water taken in 1982 taken from Camp Lejeune’s Naval Hospital had TCE at 1,400 parts per billion!

Which Diseases Qualify As Proof of Exposure?

At least 15 diseases have been linked to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These diseases are:

• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Female infertility
• Hepatic steatosis
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Lung cancer
• Miscarriage
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma

These are not the only possible diseases. With over 70 known chemicals detected in the water at the base, there could be many others that may qualify. However, if you have one of the diseases listed, your case will be much easier to prove.

The earlier you get your claim in, the easier it will be to get your compensation.

Mass tort cases like this will take time to resolve, so starting early with our Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit lawyers in Charleston will speed up the process. Over a million people were exposed during the contamination period, so speak with our lawyers as soon as possible.

Deadline to Sue

You have two years from August 2022 to make your claim before the statute of limitations in the law runs out. If you wait too long, you cannot get compensation under the new act, and it will be far more difficult to get any.

North Carolina put off claims for years, citing its own statute of limitations laws. The new law overrides these limits so that victims can get compensation, but you should consider this the last chance to get justice in this matter.

The new law declares the issue a matter of strict liability, so there is no need to prove the government was negligent. As long as you can prove the requirements for the lawsuit, you can join. Our Charleston Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit attorneys are here to help you make your claim.

Can I Get More Compensation?

You may have been fortunate to get compensation through the VA, Medicare, or Medicaid. Could you get more? There is a slight chance you could get more money through the new legislation, but only if they rule you’re owed more money than you’ve already received.

The law is explicit that any compensation through the act must be offset by what you’ve previously received. However, if the prognosis of your condition has worsened or you’ve had another illness appear with time, it may make it worth it.

The act also allows victims to ask for a jury trial if they wish. This could net you more compensation, but it is a risky and time-consuming path. This should only be done after speaking with a lawyer familiar with mass torts, like our team at MDSW Legal.

Get Compensation for Toxic Water Exposure

If you were exposed to water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 and got sick because of it, now is your chance to get compensation. Contact MDSW Legal immediately to see if you qualify for a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. We have Camp Lejuene water contamination lawsuit lawyers in Charleston, NC, ready to hear your story.