You may be wondering if you should file a Camp Lejeune claim. Perhaps you have suffered from an illness that may be traced back to your exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. If you were stationed at the Camp Lejeune military facility in North Carolina between 1953-1987 and became ill after a minimum of 30 days of exposure, you may have a claim. Additionally you may want file a claim if you lived at or worked for Camp Lejeune, because this act allows family members and civilian workers to also bring a claims for compensation.
Like other types of personal injury claim, you’ll need to provide proof that you have suffered losses related to this accidental exposure. For best guidance on filing a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, contact a qualified and experienced disability Lawyer, like Houston’s own William Herren.
For Former Military
Marines and other service members stationed at Camp Lejeune can get medical care and disability through the Veterans Administration for related illnesses. They can qualify even if they don’t live in North Carolina anymore, no matter when they were diagnosed. Veterans must produce medical records that they developed a health condition (including cancers) after their time at the base, and that the health condition is linked to chemical exposure. Only veterans who were dishonorably discharged are ineligible.
Unfortunately, the VA mishandled about 1 in 3 of veterans’ claims for Camp Lejeune, with many underpaid because of an incorrect effective date. More than 17,000 veterans saw their claims denied because VA staff failed to send a letter asking for additional documentation. These mistakes resulted from staff not understanding how to process the claims.
Because the VA is notorious for denying veterans’ claims, The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 paves the way for veterans to get the care they need for their conditions as well as compensation. Your settlement will be offset by other benefits and payments, such as VA Disability, Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI.) But you can file even if you’ve received healthcare from the VA for these illnesses.
Survivors of a Marine or other military member may also be able to file a claim or a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their loved one. The same requirements apply, including proving 30 days or longer on base and proof of medical conditions related to the contamination.
For Civilians
Military veterans are not the only ones who may have been made ill from the contaminated water. Military spouses, children, and civilian workers were also exposed to the toxic water by using and drinking it regularly. But civilians aren’t eligible to receive assistance from the VA, until now.
Claims are filed with the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit (TCU), with two years to file. If your claim is denied, and no settlement is reached, the next step is to file a lawsuit U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Just like veterans, a civilian filing a claim must show residency for 30 days during the affected period and a medical diagnosis connected to the toxic water. The list of health conditions attributed to water contamination is long. Birth defects, stillbirths, miscarriages, and neurobehavioral effects are included. Hundreds of babies are believed to have died in utero or at birth because of the contaminated water their mothers were exposed to while at the base.
A Camp Lejeune lawsuit is a personal injury lawsuit against the government to recover losses for pain and suffering, medical costs, and lost wages due to negligence. Survivors can also file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased by their estate. Just like military members, any financial settlement will be offset by any benefit payments already received.
Must File Within Two Years of Passage of Act in 2022
We’re not going to tell you that you should file a claim or not. But we do suggest you at least have a consultation with a disability attorney specializing in Camp LeJeune cases and consider the possibility while the opportunity is available to recover compensation for medical bills and other losses related to your illness. The window of time for filing a claim is short, closing in August of 2024, so you need to start the process immediately.
If you’re still undecided, don’t wait. Speak with a Camp Lejeune water contamination attorney immediately and learn about the options you have and if you have a case. Use the free consultation with your attorney to decide whether it’s something you should pursue. Once you understand what’s involved, you’ll be able to decide if you should file a claim.
Camp Lejeune Claim? Contact The Herren Law Firm Today
If you served at or worked at Camp Lejeune and are now suffering a chronic illness, you may have a claim under this act. For more than 30 years, the Herren Law firm has helped veterans and other disabled people with their benefits claims and appeals. We have extensive experience dealing with governmental agencies and the claims that are filed with them. With the passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act in August 2022, Mr. Herren has added focus in his practice on this section of the population, especially since the window to file a claim is only 2 years from August 2022.
If you or someone you know became ill after being stationed at Camp Lejeune, get in touch with us immediately. Given the deadline to file a claim, do not wait to find out if you may have a claim. Please make a call or schedule a consultation with Herren Law!
We’ve helped over 4,000 people, and we can help you as well. Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form our consultation is free, and you won’t owe us a fee until we win your case.
