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According to several scientists, the incident at Camp Lejeune is the worst case of water contamination in the history of the U.S. Innumerable military veterans, their relatives, and family members have been diagnosed with life-threatening ailments because of the toxic waters, which even led to death. One can also attribute this havoc to the carelessness of the federal government and Camp Lejeune officials.
The question to ponder is: What caused the water pollution in this region? Several things made the Camp Lejeune water toxic. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry stated the water supply in this area was polluted by a flurry of sources, which included water disposal sites, underground water storage tanks that were leaking, and industrial area spills.
That is not all. Local records highlight that Camp Lejeune military officials used to dump oil and industrial wastewater into storm drains, which entered the water supply. Additionally, these officials were very careless in the way they disposed of radioactive materials.
One prominent cause of water pollution was the dry-cleaning business located nearby that, for several years, kept dumping wastewater with toxic dry-cleaning chemicals into the drains. It included chemicals like tetrachloroethylene, which is a suspected carcinogen and is known to cause fatal ailments.
However, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) in 2022 enabled veterans and victims to file legal complaints and seek legal compensation for their losses. However, there are certain factors to consider to ensure that a person receives fair compensation.
In this article, we will discuss the factors that veterans and victims must consider when they are trying to get compensated for the pain and suffering caused by Camp Lejeuneโs toxic waters.
Getting Your Compensation: The Crucial Factors to Look Into
The Camp Lejeune compensation amounts are payouts offered by the U.S. government to people who have suffered from getting exposed to the toxic waters. These settlements can financially compensate individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer, birth defects, and various other ailments because of the tainted water on the base.
Here are a few factors to keep in mind when you wish to seek monetary compensation:
Know Who Qualifies for Lawsuit Settlements
Any person who has developed major health issues after residing or working on the base for close to 30 days between 1953 and 1987 can qualify to get compensated. Camp Lejeune residents mostly comprise:
- Guardsmen
- S. Navy and Marine Corps veterans
- Civilian workers
- Reservists
- Children, spouses, and various members of their family
One of your loved ones might have passed away a few decades ago because of toxic water exposure at Camp Lejeune. In such a situation, you can also become eligible to receive compensation by filing a lawsuit for wrongful death on their behalf.
Health Conditions that Qualify for Payouts
There is a list of ailments that are eligible for compensation. It includes various types of cancer, such as bladder, brain, breast, cervical, esophageal, colorectal, kidney, lung, liver, myelodysplastic, rectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancer.
That aside, other life-threatening ailments that qualify for financial compensation are:
- Aplastic anemia
- Crohnโs disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Cardiac defects
- Female infertility
- Birth defects
- Miscarriage
- Fatty liver disease (hepatic steatosis)
- Multiple myeloma
- Scleroderma (Crest syndrome)
- Lymphomas
- Non-Hodgkinโs lymphoma
- Parkinsonโs disease
- Renal toxicity
- Sarcoma
TorHoerman Law states that victims can use their settlement amounts to pay for their lost wages, medical bills, and ongoing medical and other expenses. They can also use it to resolve other emotional damages and their pain and suffering. Also, the settlement amount for every person will vary based on the conditions diagnosed, injuries suffered, and the time they have spent at the base.
Adhering to the Deadline
According to the CLJA of 2022, people are eligible to file a water contamination lawsuit two years after the enforcement of the bill. It means that victims need to file their Camp Lejeune claim by August 2024. This timeline is essential as it gives the veterans and their relatives a chance to seek financial compensation for their losses, even if that took place a decade ago.
But the chance of receiving compensation is only certain when they stick to the deadline and donโt delay it.
The Settlement Negotiation
Arriving at the Camp Lejeune settlement amount might include ample back-and-forth negotiations. As a layperson, victims, and veterans might not be experts at that. Therefore, itโs a smart idea to get in touch with a trained and experienced lawyer who can function as a legal communicator. That aside, an accomplished litigator will have the experience of dealing with powerful corporations.
Therefore, they will use all their know-how and experience efficiently on your behalf. It translates to the fact that you might get more cash as settlements than you might have received if you faced the legal battle all by yourself.
Preserving Crucial Evidence
You will only get your compensation once the lawyer proves your suffering and damages are valid at the court, which ensures that the verdict is in your favor. What allows the lawyer to accomplish this seamlessly is every piece of evidence that you present to them, which authenticates your damages and emotional losses.
Hence, you need to keep the crucial evidence handy. It can comprise medical records that establish the link between your ailment and the toxic water exposure, documents related to your stay at Camp Lejeune, essential health care data, and anecdotal accounts with contact details that add value to your case. A trained lawyer will use these details to build a solid case, which increases your chance of getting compensated.
The Elective Option for Settlement Amounts
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in September 2023 announced a voluntary 2-tier Elective Option to offer faster payouts to Camp Lejeune victims. If you stayed longer at the base, you have a chance to receive more compensation. The options will provide an extra $100,000 if a relative or loved one has died because of the toxic water exposure.
Even though the payouts can sum up to $550,000, the lawsuit settlements might offer the victims increased compensation compared to the Elective Option. Hence, the victims and veterans need to make a judgment call based on what proves beneficial to them.
Finally, by now, almost everyone is aware of the fact that the Camp Lejeune lawsuits have faced ample delays in providing settlement payouts. It has caused both annoyance and disappointment amongst the victims, as most of them are elderly adults who might not receive their payouts during their lifetimes should the delays persist.
However, it is essential for every person who suffered because of the toxic Camp Lejeune waters to file a lawsuit and seek fair compensation. The factors mentioned above will ensure that they approach the claims process with precision and the required diligence to ensure they are successful.
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