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After years of pain, troops and their families that were exposed to harmful chemicals at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina had minimal access to justice. But now that new legislation has been passed, our mass tort lawyers are ready to take on Camp Lejeune water contamination cases.
If you or your family are a Camp Lejeune water contamination victim, the Thumbs Up Guys are ready to fight for justice and compensation. We’ll help you build your case so you can recover the compensation you need to cover essential costs.
What Happened at Camp Lejeune?
In 1982, a Marine corps investigation of the North Carolina military base, Camp Lejeune, resulted in the discovery of a variety of toxic chemicals from an off base dry cleaning company and leaking storage tanks on the base. Due to the company’s improper waste disposal method, harmful chemicals made their way into the water supply of the military base where thousands of people consumed the water everyday.
Due to the high consumption of the contaminated water, troops, their families, and employees on the base were exposed to high levels of harmful chemicals that would later cause a plethora of health conditions years later. Up until recently, families struggled with health issues and had few ways to recover compensation for the high costs that come with an illness caused by toxic chemicals.
But this year, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was passed as a part of The Honoring Our PACT Act which allows troops, their families, and any employees that were exposed to the contaminated water to recover compensation through filing a lawsuit.
What Are the Health Risks of the Contaminated Water?
The contaminated water at the base resulted in dozens of health conditions and illnesses. In the investigation, the Marine Corps found that there were three main chemicals in the drinking water: Trichloroethylene, Benzene, and vinyl chloride. All of these chemicals are used in an artificial manner and should never come into contact with the human body, let alone be ingested.
Trichloroethylene
Trichloroethylene is primarily found in cleaning products and paint removers. So when it’s ingested, it can cause a variety of different cancers. When researchers looked into the conditions this specific chemical caused, they found that it primarily caused liver and kidney cancer.
Benzene
Benzene, a key chemical in creating plastic, can cause severe bone problems. The chemical can weaken and deteriorate bones making them fragile and more likely to break with the slightest amount of pressure. Researchers also found that Benzene exposure causes anemia, a common blood disorder that causes fatigue and body weakness.
Vinyl Chloride
The last major chemical, vinyl chloride is a flammable gas that’s often known as PVC. PVC is a synthetic plastic that is used to make thousands of products in our everyday lives. However, its presence in drinking water can cause health issues like liver cancer and even brain cancer.
What Benefits Can You Receive if You Are a Victim of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?
If you or a family member were affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may be eligible for compensation by filing a Camp Lejeune claim against the federal government. There have been numerous health issues associated with individuals who spent 30 days or more at or around Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987:
- Esophageal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Renal toxicity
- Female infertility
- Scleroderma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Leukemia
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Hepatic steatosis
- Miscarriage
- Neurobehavioral effects
If you or a loved one lived or worked at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 and developed a serious illness, you should file a claim to see if you are entitled to monetary compensation. Sadly, many of our brave men and women who were stationed at Camp Lejeune during that time period are no longer with us, but rest assured that they are still entitled to compensation. A lawyer who knows how the Camp Lejeune water contamination act works can help you start building a case so you can get the compensation you and your family deserves.
How do I Qualify for Camp Lejeune Contamination Benefits?
In order to qualify for the above-mentioned benefits there are two requirements you must meet. To recover compensation for Camp Lejeune water contamination you must meet the following requirements:
- You or your family member must have lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during any time period between 1953 to 1987
- You or your family member must have been on the base for at least 30 days total
The Acknowledged Qualifying Health Conditions to Receive Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs currently acknowledges several forms of cancer linked to the Camp Lejeune water contamination. If you have one or more of the qualifying conditions you are likely eligible for compensation. The qualifying conditions include:
- Adult Leukemia
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Lung cancer
If you can prove that you meet these criteria, you can recover disability compensation. The best way to prove these requirements are with medical records to show that you have been diagnosed with one of the conditions above. You must also prove that the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune was the cause. That’s where we can help!
To See if You Qualify For Benefits Complete the Free Case Review!
Contact the Thumbs Up Guys to Start Building Your Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Case
Building a strong case to show that Camp Lejeune water contamination resulted in severe and even life threatening health conditions can be difficult without a lawyer. Our mass tort attorneys at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward Injury Attorneys can help you and your loved ones build your Camp Lejeune water contamination case.
Our team of lawyers is ready to get justice for Camp Lejeune water contamination victims, so if you have a severe illness and meet the requirements, we’re waiting to hear from you. Complete the chat form to or Call the Thumbs Up Guys for a free case consultation or fill out the form on our contact page.
